My mother is 82 yrs old and cannot ask this question unless we both go into the Social Security office in Portland, Maine. Hopefully, you can give us a quick answer? Mom has received SS survivor's benefits after my father, Fred passed in 1990. She then re-married in 2001at age 66 and continued to collect my Dad's SS benefits. So Mom received approximately $1,000 per month and her new husband, Jerry received his SS benefits of about $1,000 per month. Recently, Jerry passed unexpectedly - will my Mom have to live on $1,000 per month from now on? Or, can she continue to receive Jerry's SS benefits as survivor benefits? Meaning, can she keep both Fred's and Jerry's social security benefits? She has none of her own as she did not work enough. Thank you so much.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

Your mother can only receive the higher of her 2 potential widow's benefits. She should contact Social Security to find out if her benefit rate would be any higher on her 2nd husband's record. Also, she will probably qualify for at least a $255 one-time death payment on her 2nd husband's record, but an application would be required.

Best, Jerry