Can I get disabled widow's benefits?

By , Attorney · UC Law San Francisco

Question:

My husband of thirty five years died at age 65. He was collecting Social Security. I'm 58, so I'm not eligible for retirement yet, but I can no longer work due to a bad hip and back problems. Someone told me I could get disabled widow's benefits?

Answer:

As long as you became disabled within seven years of your husband's death and you fit Social Security's definition of disabled, you should be able to get disabled widow's benefits (DWB). Disabled widowers receive 71.5% of their spouses' primary insurance amount, but you may receive less since it sounds like your husband was collecting early retirement benefits.

To get benefits before age 60, you have to apply for disabled widow's benefits and prove to Social Security that you have a disability that prevents you from working any full-time job, for at least a year. You may want to read Nolo's articles on disability for back problems and disability for hip problems to see if you would qualify as disabled.

Once you turn 60, your benefits would convert to "aged widow's benefits," which are like widow's retirement benefits. These benefits are also sometimes referred to as surviving spouse benefits or spousal survivor benefits.

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