Real Answers for Life’s Money Challenges
My husband recently passed.
Im not eligible for survivor benefits, but my son is.
I was told by a friend I was eligible for widow benefits.
I cant find any information on that.
Im 54 and havent worked outside the home most of our marriage.
Surviving Widow
Dear Widow,
Im sorry for your loss.
And Im sorry I probably dont have good news for you.
Your friend may be using a colloquial term for what the Social Security Administration calls survivor benefits.
Theres no such thing, officially, as widow benefits.
Youre likely not eligible to receive survivor benefits because of your age.
Asurviving spousecan receive Social Security benefits starting at age 60 (or 50 if they have a disability).
To be eligible, your son must be under age 18 or living with a disability.
If thats the case, and you were told youre ineligible, check again!
This should have been listed in his will if he had one.
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
It sounds appealing right?
Check it out here!
