I am 57 yrs of age and am totally disabled for 10 years my husband just passed away last year and I contacted social security and they told me I can only receive 447 of my husbands social security for widows benefits since I receive 987 on my income for disability my husband and I were not prepared since he has never been sick and both his parents are in late 90s and I am in stage 3 kidney failure and have had several surgeries and my doctors say my body is deteriorating and my husband did everything to care for me so how do I know I am getting all the benefits I am suppose to since I have a lot of medical bills medicine expenses etc thank you for helping those of us who have no one else to rely on

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss, and about your health problems.

If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) and then become entitled to disabled widow's benefits, what you should receive is your own full disability benefit rate, plus 71.5% of the difference between your husband's full retirement age rate (PIA) and your full disability rate. So, it sounds like what Social Security told you is correct assuming that your husband's PIA is about $1612, and your full disability rate is $987.

Best, Jerry