Widows Benefits

If You Are The Worker's Widow Or Widower:
If you are the unmarried widow or widower of a person who worked long enough under Social Security that is now deceased, you can

• receive full benefits at full retirement age for survivors or older or reduced benefits as early as age 60.
• begin receiving benefits as early as age 50 if you are disabled.
• receive survivors benefits at any age if you take care of the deceased worker's child who is under age 16 or is disabled and receives benefits on the worker's record.

Please note: If you also will receive a pension based on work not covered by Social Security, such as government or foreign work, your Social Security benefits as a survivor may be affected.

If You're the Worker's Surviving Divorced Spouse:
If you are the unmarried divorced spouse of a worker who dies, you could get benefits just the same as a widow or widower, provided that your marriage lasted 10 years or more. (You would not have to meet this length-of-marriage rule if you are caring for a child under age 16 or disabled who is getting benefits on the record of your former spouse. The child must be your former spouse's natural or legally adopted child.)

Benefits paid to you as a surviving divorced spouse who meets the age or disability requirement as a widow or widower won't affect the benefit rates for other survivors getting benefits on the worker's record. However, if you are the surviving divorced mother or father who has the worker’s child under age 16 or disabled in your care, your benefit will affect the amount of the benefits of others on the worker's record.

Please note: If you will also receive a pension based on work not covered by Social Security, such as government or foreign work, your Social Security benefits as a survivor may be affected.

If You're the Worker's Minor or Disabled Child:
If you are the unmarried child under 18 (up to age 19 if attending elementary or secondary school full time) of a worker who dies, you also can be eligible to receive Social Security survivor benefits.

And you can get benefits at any age if you were disabled before age 22 and remain disabled. Click here for an explanation of disability qualifications for children.

(Besides the worker's natural children, his or her stepchildren, grandchildren or adopted children may receive benefits under certain circumstances.)

For more information on Widows Benefits and how to apply, complete the free consultation form to the left or below.  An attorney will review the form and may contact you to discuss your case.

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Free Widows Benefits Consultation

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Before you complete our Free Online Case Evaluation Form, please keep in mind that you must provide us with accurate, genuine contact information including a valid telephone number and valid e-mail address. If you do not enter a valid e-mail address, we cannot respond to your inquiry.

Finally, please read carefully and answer the following 4 questions below:

1)	Does your claim involve a Childhood Disability of a Minor?	Yes   No
2)	Does your claim involve an Overpayment with Social Security?	Yes   No
3)	Is your Disability claim filed under Title XVI (16) for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?	Yes   No
4)	Are you presently working?	Yes   No

If you answered YES to any one of the questions above, then we cannot assist you, as we are presently not assisting people in these types of claims.

If you answered NO to all of the questions above, then please click the button to continue.