Final answer:
The surviving spouse will not receive Social Security benefits until reaching the age of 65 unless they qualify under other provisions, such as disability or as a dependent parent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The surviving spouse will not receive Social Security benefits until they reach the age of 65, which is the age when they are eligible to begin receiving monthly benefits if they are the widow of a qualified worker. Unless other specific conditions are met, such as those pertaining to disability or dependent parent benefits, this age limit applies.
It is important to note that Social Security benefits are designed to replace only a portion of your income in retirement; they were never intended to be the sole source of retirement income. Additionally, legislative changes have increased the age of eligibility for full retirement benefits from 65 to 67 for workers born after 1959, with incremental increases taking effect over time.