My husband died in 1994 he was 49.

I was deemed Disabled around 2010 at age 50.

SS checked to see whose SS out pay would be worth more - his or mine - turned out mine was.

So I have collected disibility for the last 6 or 7 years based on my own work record.

I will turn 60 in Aug. 2017 - my question is "Will I be eligible for widows benefits from SS for my husbands work record and if so how will it be calculated?"

Hi,

Unless Social Security was mistaken when they told you originally that your own benefit rate was higher than your widow's rate, it sounds like you won't be eligible for widows benefits.

When a person qualifies simultaneously for disability benefits and disabled widows benefits, the primary insurance amounts (PIA) on both records are compared. Your PIA would be the same as your full disability rate. Your husband's PIA would be a projection of the amount that he would have received at full retirement age (FRA). If your own PIA is higher than your husband's PIA, you would only be eligible for your own disability benefits. But, if your husband's PIA was higher, in addition to your disability benefit you would receive 71.5% of the difference between your PIA and your husband's PIA.

So, if your husband's PIA was higher than your own PIA, you should already be receiving disabled widows benefits. But if your PIA is higher, then you wouldn't be eligible for widows benefits at any age. That said, Social Security does make mistakes so it would probably be worth your while to check with them again regarding widows benefits.

Best, Jerry