you can only claim one SS, either yours or your spouses. Not bot

Social Security Benefits Upon the Death Of A Spouse

 

• If you are a widow or widower you can collect a survivor’s benefit as early as age 60. See the widows/widowers section of the Social Security website for additional information on how this works.
• Once you and your spouse are receiving Social Security benefits, upon the death of your spouse, you will continue to receive the larger of your benefit, or your spouse’s, but not both. This means if you have a longer life expectancy, and you are collecting a benefit based on your spouse’s earnings, if your spouse starts taking Social Security early, it will result in a significant reduction in your benefit too, and the reduction will last throughout your life expectancy.
• A surviving spouse living in the same household is eligible to receive a one-time lump sum payment of $255 upon the death of their spouse.
• When married couples choose to maximize the highest earning spouse’s benefit by having that person delay collecting until age 70, it acts as a powerful form of life insurance. In many cases it provides the equivalent of $50,000 - $250,000 of life insurance benefit.

 

 

 

 

http://moneyover55.about.com/od/socialsecuritybenefits/a/socialsecurityspousebenefit.htm