Widows who are not of retirement age cannot receive any of their husband's Social Security benefits unless they are disabled or their children are under 18 or disabled. There are many women in this position. Not only do you lose your spouse, but you lose their income and in some cases their health benefits.Even though most work, like me, it is usually not enough to support their family. I still have a son in college.
The government will keep ALL of my husband's Social Security benefits that he paid into for 41 years because even when I am of age to collect his Social Security, I will also be able to collect mine, and you can't do both.
I am not doing this for me, but for the women that are in worse financial situations than my family. The government shouldn't keep what we worked for.