My husband died shortly after he began receiving social security at 65. Because I was 59 3/4, I wasn't able to receive survivor benefits. I believe they said that was a permanent answer, but i can't help but wonder if I could be eligible after 60, or at any age.

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. You must be at least age 60 to potentially qualify for widow's benefits, unless you're disabled. So, if you're now at least age 60 and if you were married to your husband for at least 9 months then you likely meet the eligibility requirements for widow's benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.04/handbook-0401.html).

However, until you reach full retirement age (FRA) there is a limit on how much you can earn and still be able to collect benefits. And, if you're already drawing your own Social Security benefits then you could only be paid additional widow's benefits if your widow's rate is higher than your own benefit rate.

There isn't enough information in your question to enable me to give you any specific advice, but using the correct filing strategy can be critical for widows. You may want to strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully compare and analyze all of your various options so that you can determine your best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry