HELLO I'M 51 YEARS OLD, MY WIFE DIED 9 YEARS AGO AND WAS ON SSI. WHAT BENEFITS AM I ELIGIBLE FOR, IF ANY AND WHEN?

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss. If your wife was only receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), then you wouldn't qualify for any survivor benefits. SSI does not pay auxiliary or survivor benefits to family members of the SSI recipient.

On the other hand, if your wife was insured for or receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits then you may qualify for survivor benefits. In order to be eligible for survivor benefits prior to age 60, though, you'd need to either be disabled or have a child in your care who qualifies for child's benefits on your wife's record and who is either under age 16 or disabled. For the full eligibility rules for widower benefits, refer to the following reference from Social Security's handbook: https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.04/handbook-0401.html.

You couldn't be paid Social Security benefits based on your own earnings history prior to age 62 unless you are disabled. You may want to consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully explore your benefit options so that you can determine your best strategy for claiming benefits.

Best, Jerry