Widows and widowers, beyond emotional loss, contend with a host of financial challenges in the aftermath of losing a spouse. These include paying for medical bills left behind, covering funeral costs, and contacting insurance companies. Many also face a drastically different financial future. Their income tax bracket may change.

Where can I get help with widow benefits?

If you are currently going through the widower or survivor benefits process but need financial assistance prior to the acceptance, try a free financial counselor or your local community action agency.

Who is the best financial planner for widows?

Shelly Gigante specializes in personal finance issues. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications and news websites. Widows and widowers, beyond emotional loss, contend with a host of financial challenges in the aftermath of losing a spouse.

How many people receive widow or widower benefits?

There are currently about 5 million people that receive the widow or widower benefit, which helps to keep many Americans out of financial ruin and poverty.

The financial challenges can be especially daunting for women. Husbands tend to earn more than their wives, and the end of that income can be a big blow. And in more cases than not, husbands oversee the household finances, often leaving their widows scrambling to sort everything out.

What should a widow look for in a financial adviser?

“A widow should find an adviser who listens to her and does not try to rush her,” said Ms. Rehl, of St. Petersburg, Fla. Ms. Speyer and her husband, Ronald, had been seeing a financial adviser at a large brokerage firm who, she said]

Who are the widows in the United States?

Roughly 34 percent of women 65 and older were widows in 2016, compared with about 12 percent of men, according to the Census Bureau. The financial challenges can be especially daunting for women.

How old do you have to be to claim widow’s benefits?

A widow who waits until her full retirement age of 66 (for those born between 1945 and 1956) can claim the full survivor benefit, which is 100 percent of her husband’s benefit.