My mother is 70 and retired. She and my father divorced in 1997. He died 2 years later. Mom is currently receiving survivor benefits of $926 after deductions. Can she also get her retirement benefits of $655?

Hi,

No. Your mother can only be paid the higher of a) her own Social Security retirement benefit rate, or b) her widow's rate. If your mother files for her own Social Security retirement benefits they would offset her widow's benefits dollar for dollar. So, there's likely no point in her applying for her own benefits if her own benefit rate would be lower than her widow's rate.

Best, Jerry