Your own Social Security and spousal benefits are on a separate tracks from Widow or Survivors

let's say my spouse passes away I have worked myself for 35 years and I want to draw my own Social Security and it's $1,500 a month and I start drawing mine at 62 very early I get a reduction right 30% but my Widow benefits is still out there it's still hanging out here so I my strategy is to stay on my benefits up until my full retirement age for me 67 and then I'm going to switch over to my Widow benefit with which will be higher and it will be maxed out I'll be able to get 100% of what my spouse was drawing at the time of his death because I waited to draw my Widow benefits the fact that I drew my own Social Security early and took a reduction has no benefit I the fact that I waited to draw my Widow benefits until my full retirement age allows me to get 100% as a widow no reduction carried over