Social Security Payments - Payments to Spousal Beneficiary following Primary Beneficiary Death.

Step 1:  Notify social security of the deceased's death.  Over the phone is probably easiest but expect a long wait to get someone on the phone.  Step 2:  Tell the person on the line that the wife wants to begin collecting social security based on the deceased spouse's record.  Wife cannot collect BOTH her social security and her deceased spouse's. If both are collecting social security,  she should ask for the one which pays more.  Step 3:  Send an official copy of the death certificate with the raised seal to show evidence of the spouse's death.  It may take a while to process in which case payment may be retroactive.