@4khansenwrote:
ok... my wife was disabled at 57 with her advanced cancer. So she received SS based on her full retirement age and not her age at time of disability. Does that mean I collect on her full retirement benefit or some reduced benefit based on the fact that she started collecting at a younger age (even though it was the full amount?)
From my SSA link below -
Widows or widowers benefits based on age can start any time between age 60 and full retirement age (FRA) as a survivor.
If the benefits start at an earlier age, they are reduced a fraction of a percent for each month before full retirement age.
As permanently disabled, you wife was drawing her full benefit -
If you as her survivor start drawing before your full retirement age, there would be a reduction in the amount because of that condition.
If you take the survivor benefit at about 65 years of age (your initial post) and your full retirement age is 66 and 2 months (your initial post), there would be a slight reduction in the survivor benefit amount because you are taking this benefit earlier than your (as the survivor) FRA.
Most likely, in $$ numbers, this reduction will be smaller than what your will be gaining by NOT drawing YOUR own old age benefit until you are 70 years of age and getting the delayed credits.
To maximize both, if possible - take the survivor benefit at 66 and 2 months (your FRA) and then switch to YOUR OWN earnings benefit at 70.
It's Always Something . . . . Roseanna Roseannadanna