When planning my timing on taking benefits, my main concern was my wife's widows benefits. I am taking my benefits at 69 years 9 months. She is 7 years younger than I am so what her widows benefits will be is a major factor in deciding at what age she should take her social security benefits. Four different people have given me four different answers on the phone and at a social security office. I was first told she would receive whatever benefit I was receiving at the time of my death. I was then told she would receive only what I would have received at full retirement age of 66. Then I was told the answer was dependent on when she took her benefits, but the baseline could not be determined until she filed. And finally I was told that I should go online to find the answer by the claims rep at the local office. Can you help clarify? Thank you.

Alan,
If your wife takes her widow's benefit at or after her full retirement age (FRA), then it will be equal to the benefit that you are receiving when you die. If she takes it before her FRA it will be your benefit at death reduced by 0.396% for each month before FRA.
Best,
Mike