My father wanted to ask a question about widow benefits but he is physically disabled. My father who is 82 receives $1550 in social security a month. My mother is 69 and never accumulated enough social security credits, but receives $435 social security a month. I’m assuming this is spousal benefits?? If my father were to die would my mother receive the $1550 a month as a survivor benefit? The $435 a month would be replace with the $1550?

Hi. Yes, the surviving member of a couple is eligible for at least the higher of their two benefit rates as long as the surviving spouse doesn't start drawing widow's benefits prior to full retirement age (FRA). So, since your mother is already over FRA, if your father dies she'll be paid his full benefit amount instead of the amount that she currently receives.

Assuming that what your mother is collecting now is a spousal benefit, she won't need to apply for widow's benefits. Spousal benefits are automatically converted to survivor benefits as soon as Social Security receives notice of the worker's death, provided that the surviving spouse is FRA or older.

Best, Jerry