The number of Americans eligible for Social Security has been rising, but the number of workers at Social Security Administration is down 20% over the last decade. Meanwhile, delays in the processing of social security survivor benefits can produce real hardship for retirees, with the median retired widow or widower relying on Social Security for 75% of their total income. Kelly Phillips Erb, a Forbes senior writer and tax attorney, experienced this firsthand: When her father died in October, it took the help of a congressman to ensure her mother received the social security survivor benefits she was owed. Erb spoke to ForbesWomen editor Maggie McGrath about her experience.
Read the full story on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2026/04/04/social-security-benefits-after-death-of-spouse/
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