Widower Social Security Benefits

Social Security has evolved and helped many families since its creation. Some Social Security benefits are determinate on retirement age. As of now, the full retirement age of 65 is based on birth before 1940. Anyone born after 1940 has a retirement age up to 67.

Disabled soldiers and their families who fought in the Civil War led to the development of a generous pension program. This program later developed into Social Security.

Social Security is a government program designed to pay a benefit to a deceased worker’s widower. A widower can receive benefits at any age if she takes care of the deceased worker's child who is entitled to a child's benefit. Otherwise, the widower must be entitled to receive her own retirement or disability benefit.

If you were married for at least nine months prior to the worker being deceased, you may be eligible to collect the widower's benefits.

The maximum benefit a widower can receive is 50 percent of the benefit the deceased worker would receive at the full retirement age. To estimate a widower benefit, use the Social Security online calculator.

A divorced spouse can apply for benefits on a former spouse’s Social Security record. However, this will not affect the amount paid to the widower.