Widow's benefits from late husband's Social Security - can my 82yo mom claim at this point?

Sorry about your dad. When my mom passed last year, the funeral home reported it to SS. Wait a few weeks and see if they contact her. If not, you should call SSA to report it anyway.

I'm sorry for your loss. Yes, your mother may be entitled to survivor's benefits. If your father's benefit was higher than what your mother currently receives, she can switch to a survivor benefit equal to 100% of what your father was receiving. SSA calls this the "widow's benefit." Even though the funeral home likely reported his passing, your mother should contact SSA directly to apply for survivor benefits - they aren't automatically awarded. She'll need to provide: 1. Proof of death 2. Your parents' marriage certificate 3. Both Social Security numbers 4. Birth certificates if available The sooner she applies, the better, as benefits are only retroactive for up to 6 months from application date. Call the main SSA number at 1-800-772-1213 to set up an appointment.

When my husband died they switched me from my own smaller benefit to his bigger amount after I applied. It took like 2 months to actually get the higher payment. Make sure she calls them ASAP!!! They don't go back forever with backpay.

when my wife died i got nothing extra cuz i made more than her on social security. it all depends on who made more money during lifetime. if ur dad made more than ur mom then yeah she can get his amount instead of hers. if he made less then nothing changes for her

To clarify a few points: 1. Your mother should be eligible for widow's benefits if your father's Social Security benefit was higher than what she currently receives. She would get the higher of the two amounts, not both combined. 2. This is not automatic - she must apply for survivor benefits. While funeral homes typically report deaths to SSA, this only stops the deceased's benefits; it doesn't trigger survivor benefits. 3. The application should be done promptly. SSA can only pay up to 6 months of retroactive benefits, and some benefits might be limited to if she applies within the month of death. 4. She'll likely need an appointment with SSA. Their phone system is overwhelmed, and it can take dozens of calls to reach a representative to schedule this appointment. 5. Survivor benefits are different from the one-time death payment of $255 that she may also be eligible for as the surviving spouse.

I went through this last year with my mom, and it took FOREVER to get it figured out!!!! The SSA is THE WORST to deal with. We called for WEEKS and couldn't get through. When we finally did, they told us mom had to come into the office, but there were no appointments for 6 WEEKS!!!!! We ended up going to a different office 45 miles away because they had an earlier appointment. Make sure she has EVERY document you can think of - they will find reasons to delay if anything is missing!!!!!!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I talked to my mom and we're going to try calling the SSA tomorrow morning. I've explained that she might be eligible for dad's higher benefit amount. We've started gathering the documents mentioned (marriage certificate, death certificate, etc.) just in case. I'm a bit worried about the difficulty getting through on the phone that several of you mentioned. If we have trouble, we might try that Claimyr service someone suggested. I'll update once we make some progress. Really appreciate all your help during this difficult time.

my neighbor tried to get her husbands SS after he died and they told her she made too much money on her own to qualify for anything extra. so dont get your hopes up too high

Dont forget about the $255 death benefit too. Not much but its something.