Am I eligible to apply for the higher Social Security income of my ex-spouse after they die?

Question: My ex-husband has died.  Can I apply for his Social Security income, which is higher than mine?

Answer: If you are the divorced spouse of a worker who dies and your marriage lasted for 10 years or more, you could get the same benefits as a widow or widower, regardless of whether your ex-spouse remarried!

Benefits paid to you as a surviving divorced spouse who meets the age or disability requirement as a widow or widower will not affect the benefit rates for other survivors getting benefits on the ex-spouse’s record.
Note:  If you remarry after age 60 (age 50 if disabled), it will not affect your eligibility for survivors benefits.