Chuck,
When your wife died, you as a surviving spouse became eligible for survivor benefits. A surviving spouse can collect 100 percent of the late spouse’s benefit if the survivor has reached full retirement age, but the amount will be lower if the deceased spouse claimed benefits before he or she reached full retirement age. (Full retirement age for survivor benefits differs from that for retirement and spousal benefits; it is currently 66 but will gradually increasing to 67 over the next several years.)
If you were already receiving spousal benefits on the deceased’s work record, Social Security will in most cases switch you automatically to survivor benefits when the death is reported. Otherwise, you will need to apply for survivor benefits by phone at [phone number removed] or in person at your local Social Security office.
Keep in mind that you will not receive a survivor benefit in addition to your own retirement benefit; Social Security will pay the higher of the two amounts. You may claim benefits on your deceased spouse while delaying claiming your own until full retirement age.
Joe D.
https://faq.ssa.gov/en-US/Topic/article/KA-02083
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