To be eligible for this benefit program, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be at least age 60.
- Be the widow or widower of a fully insured worker.
- Meet the marriage duration requirement.
- Be unmarried, unless the marriage can be disregarded.
- Not be entitled to an equal or higher Social Security retirement benefit based on your own work.
Based on the information you gave about your age, your current marital status and length of your marriage to your deceased spouse, you could get Social Security widow's or widower's benefits beginning at age 60 if your former spouse had enough work credits and you are not getting a higher benefit on your own work record.
PLEASE NOTE: If you get (or will get) a pension based on work for an employer who did not withhold Social Security taxes, such as a government agency or an employer in another country, your Social Security benefits may be reduced. Visit SSA’s Publications Page and review "A Pension from Work Not Covered by Social Security", Social Security Publication Number 05-10045 and "Government Pension Offset", Social Security Publication Number 05-10007.