How do I file

[LesGrace]

Since my wife passed away in may and received $5600 in social security, should I file married filing jointly or file individually. 

[BettieG]

Hi LesGrace!  I'm so sorry for your loss.

In the year that your spouse passed away, you are entitled to file Married Filing Jointly for the entire year, and to claim the full standard deduction.  So, since your wife passed in May of this year, you should file Married Filing Jointly for 2023.  Please see this article for additional information:  Death in the Family.

Please note that, when you prepare your tax return using TurboTax, you will see a question asking whether you are preparing the return for someone who has passed away.  This article provides instructions for how to proceed.

I hope this helps, and my condolences again.