at what age can a widow claim social security benefits
You'll only get full widows benefits if you wait until full retirement age to claim them. You can claim as early as age 60, or even 50 if you're disabled, but the reduction in benefits at 60 pays you just 71.5% of what you'd get if you waited until full retirement age. Special rules covering benefits for widows and widowers There are a couple of potentially confusing rules that you need to understand about widows and widowers benefits under Social Security. First, if you are the surviving spouse and you have a work history of your own that entitles you to Social Security retirement benefits, then keep in mind that you don't have to claim both benefits at the same time.