Final answer:
The Social Security blackout period ends at age 60 for a surviving, non-remarried spouse, allowing them to receive survivor benefits at that time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The widow or widower's Social Security blackout period is a term used to describe the span of time during which Social Security survivor benefits are not available to a surviving spouse who is not disabled, from the time the youngest child turns 16 until the surviving spouse reaches age 60.
This blackout period ends when the surviving non-remarried spouse becomes eligible for survivor benefits at age 60, unless they are disabled, in which case they can begin receiving benefits at age 50. However, the full retirement benefits age has gradually been increasing and will reach age 67 for those born after 1959. It is also important to remember that Social Security benefits are a critical source of income for many retirees, with a large portion of the elderly population relying on it to stay out of poverty after the age of 65.