My husband died in 2003 at the age of 55. I am turning 62 in October would I qualify for receiving his ss. He had just received his first disability check when he passed. Our boys received their check until they were 18 & 19

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. Actually, you can potentially qualify for widow's benefits as early as age 60, although your benefit rate would be reduced for age if you start drawing prior to your full retirement age (FRA). Your best strategy for claiming benefits depends on a) the amount of your potential widow's benefit, and b) the amount of your own Social Security retirement benefit, and c) how much you're earning if you're still working.

It sounds like your best strategy for claiming benefits would likely be one of the following:
1) File for reduced widow's benefits now or as soon as your earnings will permit at least some benefits to be paid, then switch to your own record at age 70; or,
2) File for reduced retirement benefits on your own record at age 62 or as soon as your earnings will permit at least some benefits to be paid, then file for unreduced widow's benefits at full retirement age (FRA).

Normally, you would want to start out drawing the lower benefit first and then switch to the higher benefit when it reaches it's highest potential rate. Our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) could help sort all of this out for you so that you can determine the best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry