Is ss Survivor Benefit a Lifetime Benefit?

[Idnar7]

DW will have roughly the same SS retirement benefit as I. I drew at 62. She is planning to delay until at least FRA (2019). If I pass first, will she get the full survivor benefit (100% of my benefit) even after she claims her own? I could not find the answer on the SSA site. TIA

 

[REWahoo]

I believe it depends on which benefit is larger. She will get an amount equal to yours only if yours is larger, otherwise she'll continue to get hers.

 

[Idnar7]

Thanks for the quick reply. She was hoping to get both :^). Sounds as if she should delay hers as long as possible to get some survivor benefit and increase her own benefit.