My wife has passed away in 2015 at the age of 55. Currently, I am almost 62 years old. Am I eligible for survivor benefits and if I do, what is the process for applying for them.

A) I’m sorry to hear about the passing of your wife. You may be eligible for survivor benefits based on your wife’s Social Security earnings history. Here’s the breakdown:

Eligibility:

• You were married for at least 10 years before your wife’s death (you meet this requirement).
• You are currently at least 60 years old (you’ll be eligible soon).

Benefits:

• You can receive reduced benefits as early as age 60 (you’ll be eligible soon).
• The amount you receive depends on your age when you apply. It starts at 71.5% of your deceased wife’s benefit at age 60 and increases the closer you get to your full retirement age (between 66-67 depending on your birth year).
• You can receive up to 100% of your wife’s benefit if you wait until your full retirement age.

Applying for Benefits:

There are a few ways to apply for survivor benefits:

• Apply online at the Social Security Administration (SSA) website: https://www.ssa.gov/survivor
• Call the SSA national toll-free service at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to schedule an appointment at your local office.
• Visit your local Social Security office in person (no appointment needed, but scheduling one may reduce wait times).

Additional Information:

• To estimate your benefit amount, you can use the SSA’s Retirement Estimator tool: https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/quickcalc/
• For more details on survivor benefits, you can refer to the SSA’s Survivor Benefits page: https://www.ssa.gov/survivor

It’s wise to contact the Social Security Administration directly to confirm your eligibility and discuss the best option for applying based on your specific situation.