Yes, you can confirm this at www.socialsevurity.gov

Well I like reply #1 but when I went to our office after I lost my husband they said when I reached 60 years old I could start collecting my husbands OR mine, whichever was more so I was under the impression you only get one or the other. Good luck. Robin

At 60, a widow is entitled to her husband's SS. When you turn 62 you may draw your own or continue to collect his which ever is the larger amount. I am collecting on my husband's and when I turn 66 I will collect on mine as then it will be the larger amount by about $150.00 a month. Sorry you can't collect both which is also a consideration when thinking about remarrying. You can also work and make a certian amount of money and still collect..amounts may vary so you'd need to check on that.

Only one.

Woopsie, clearly I got it wrong when I looked into it 3yrs ago. With so many people not living to retirement age, its amazing the government claims it (S.S) will go bankrupt soon!

You can collect just one. I am collecting my husbands until I am 70 and then I will collect mine which will be about double what I am collecting now. You are allowwed to work and earn up to $14600 per year and still collect. Shirley

Does that mean I can retire early, collecting my husband's at partial payment because I'm won't be 66 for awhile. I'm 53 now. Then can I then wait till I'm 66 and draw full retirement on mine.

This is a great topic. Since I am unemployed right now, can I collect on his till I am eligible for mine? His is bigger than mine will be, but not by a huge amount.
Can I start and stop collecting?
I'm 51, he was 53 when he passed away.
thanks!

My wife and her employers paid several thousand dollars into Social Security over the course of thirty five years, when she lost her battle to cancer those bastards sent me a check for $255.00. I know mine will be a better deal when I retire so hers is gone to help prop up the Social Security system. I look for them to tell me I don't get crap when I want to retire, I think George Bush is to blame for all this.

When I was told I would get I check for $255 I made a comment that it was a strange amount. Why not $250? Why $255? I was told that this began in 1930 and in 1930 it cost $255 to bury someone. The amount has been changed since then.

Oh my goodness. 255 to bury someone. Now it's 10,000 and we're still getting the same amout. By the way, how do you get it?

I didn't get the $255 for Cindy's death! she didn't work enough quarters to "qualify" for it. She was a homemaker, & mother to our blended family.

plus if you do not apply for it within the time limit you will lose out on it too.
My real dad past in 97. mom in 99., step dad in 02, and then my husband 09, stange they all got the same amount. but I lost out on my mother due to I couldn't get it within the limited time.. due to daddy.

but the way I look at it, every bit helps and be thankful for it.

From my experience I believe if your husband was 60 years old and eligible you can collect a social security widows benefit, which is what I receive. My girlfriend's husband died a year before Don at the age of 59 and she was told she was not eligible because of his age. I was also 60 when he died, and I don't know if that played any part in my getting the check. I would call your local Social Security Office or check out the website to make sure you have the correct information in your case. Sharon

I lost my husband when I was 51 yrs old but could not draw widow benefits unless I was diabled other wise had to wait until I was 60. I was 61 when i started drawing but you do take a deduction by taking it early. I have been married 2x and so I draw off my 1st marriage as that was more money. The SS people will make sure you get the most, Even though I have always worked my 1st still made more than me or my 2nd.
I am disabled now so I draw SSD from my record and I get the balance paid to me from widow benefits. It still totals the same amt per month..The only dif it is divided between the 2 .At 65 I will draw a total of straight SSW benefits.
I found the web site didnt really answer my questions in depth so I called them and then I went and talked to them in person and took all my documents. I was approved in a 6weeks time .