Widows benefit?

If your benefit is greater than her benefit then she will receive a widow's benefit in addition to her own.  She will NOT be switched over as so many think she would be.  If she is of full retirement age when you die her total benefit amount will be what you were receiving at the time of your death.  If she is under full retirement age when you die then her widow's benefit will be reduced.

Here's how it works - She gets $500 on her own record.  You get $1500.  When you die she is at least full retirement age.  She will continue to get $500 on her own record plus $1000 as a widow.  If she is under full retirement age then the $1000 will be reduced.

The change won't be automatic.  When you die she will have to contact SS to file an application for the widow's benefit and the $255 one time death benefit.

Stephen's answer is incorrect.  There are plenty of people who draw off of their own record plus an additional amount on someone elses - they just can't receive two FULL benefits off of two records; the amount of the lower benefit will always reduce the amount of the higher benefit.

I was a SS claims rep for 32 yrs.

Hers would go up to what yours is now.

Thanks Stephen, one last can she collect mine and drop hers? Mine is double hers

Not exactly.

She may or may not collect survivor's benefits.

She can collect retirement benefits based on either her own earnings record or your earnings record, but not both at the same time.

However, even if she collects benefits based on your earnings record, they will be hers, not yours, because yours ends when you die.