When a loved one passes away, navigating Social Security can be difficult. But for one New York widow, delays in getting a ...

Applying for widows benefits right away at 60 would cost you an additional 28.5%, reducing your monthly checks to $1,001 per month in our example.

Wife and widow benefits were established in 1939. Their design was based on a family structure in which only one spouse — typically the husband — worked.

Remarried widow’s Social Security benefits: how the rules changed over the years . Originally, widows and widowers lost their eligibility for survivor benefits if they remarried, regardless of ...

Moreover, Social Security widow and widower benefits are a uniquely reliable source of income in old age: inflation-adjusted and backed by the U.S. government. The bottom line: ...

Losing your partner often means losing 30% to 50% of your household income. This financial adviser emphasizes that planning ahead and understanding the rules surrounding survivor benefits can help.