My sister's husband was collecting Social Security at age 70. He got cancer and died. She was a stay at home wife. She is 57 years old. Can she collect his Social Security benefits or does she have to wait until she is 60?

Hi,

The only way that your sister could collect survivor benefits prior to age 60 is if she's a) disabled (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.04/handbook-0401.html), or b) if she has a child in her care who is under age 16 or disabled and who is eligible for benefits from her deceased husband's record (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.04/handbook-0415.html).

Best, Jerry