Social Security is not only based on your own work record; spouses and widowed partners often qualify for benefits too.
Spousal benefits
A spouse can claim up to 50% of the other spouse’s full retirement age benefit, even with little or no work history of their own.
Survivor benefits
Widows and widowers can generally claim survivor benefits as early as age 60 (50 if disabled), based on their late spouse’s record.
These rules have important timing details, so it is worth reviewing your options with the Social Security Administration before filing.