Can I receive both my own Social Security retirement and widow benefits at the same time?

You've asked a really important question that many widows face. You can't receive both your full retirement benefit AND your full widow's benefit at the same time - SSA will only pay the higher of the two amounts. However, there's a strategy you might be able to use. Since you're turning 62, you could file for either your reduced retirement benefit OR your reduced widow's benefit. The optimal strategy often involves taking the lower benefit first and then switching to the higher benefit later when it reaches its maximum amount. For example, if your widow's benefit would ultimately be higher, you might take your own reduced retirement benefit at 62, then switch to the unreduced widow's benefit at your Full Retirement Age (probably 66-67 depending on your birth year). This is definitely a case where talking to someone at SSA directly would help, as they can calculate your exact benefit amounts for both scenarios.

my sister did this exact thing!! she took her own benefit at 62 (it was small, only like $1100) and then when she hit 66 she switched to her husbands which was like $2400 i think. she said it was the smartest thing she did financially.

YOUR BEST BET IS TO WAIT!!! If you take your own benefit early at 62, it's permanently reduced by like 30%!!! Same with widow benefits if you take them before your full retirement age. The SSA doesn't always tell you all your options either because the workers are overworked and undertrained. I made this mistake and I'm stuck with a tiny check forever now. DON'T DO WHAT I DID!!

The strategy the first commenter mentioned is called "restricted application" and it can be very valuable for widows. Since you mentioned you were a teacher, I should point out that you might be affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and possibly the Government Pension Offset (GPO) if you're receiving a pension from work not covered by Social Security. This can reduce both your own benefit and potentially your widow's benefit. I'd recommend getting a benefits calculation directly from SSA that accounts for any potential WEP/GPO reductions before making your decision. The optimal strategy depends on the exact benefit amounts and your life expectancy.

I tried calling the social security office about widow benefits last month and was on hold for over 2 hours! Then they transferred me and I got disconnected. So frustrating! finally found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real agent in 20 minutes instead of hours on hold. they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU really worth it for complicated questions like yours where you need specific calculations for your situation. helped me figure out my survivor benefits when nothing else worked.

Have you checked your Social Security statement online to see what your estimated benefits would be? You can create an account at ssa.gov/myaccount and it shows estimates for your own retirement at different ages AND your widow's benefit. That might help you compare the numbers before deciding what to do.

Since you mentioned you worked as a teacher not covered by Social Security for part of your career, the WEP/GPO issue raised by another commenter is crucial. The Government Pension Offset can reduce your widow's benefit by 2/3 of your teacher's pension amount. This could significantly impact your strategy. Here's what I recommend: 1. Get your benefit estimates from SSA (online or by phone) 2. Ask specifically how WEP/GPO affects each benefit type in your case 3. Calculate which claiming strategy maximizes your lifetime benefits Generally, if your widow's benefit will be substantially higher than your own retirement benefit (even after GPO reduction), taking your own reduced benefit at 62 and switching to widow's benefits at your FRA often works best. But this is very specific to your individual circumstances.

just wanna add my two cents - my mom was in a similar boat and SSA never told her she could switch benefits later! she found out from a friend years later that she could have been getting more. definitely get a second opinion and talk to someone who specializes in widows benefits. the frontline SSA people dont always know all the rules.