Hi,

I am very sorry for your loss.

If you are at or above your Full Retirement Age, you can collect 100% of your wife’s benefit. If you take it early, the benefit will be reduced.

However, you cannot collect both benefits (your benefit and widow/survivor benefits). You can will collect the higher of the two.

You can collect widow benefits as early as age 60 or age 50 if you are disabled. If you are caring for a child under age 16 or a disabled child, you can collect widow benefits earlier.

With sympathy
Martha

Do you have a question about Social Security? Ask Martha your own question here.

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