how is a widow s allowance different from a widow s pension 
whereas a widow s allowance widower s allowance or spousal allowance is time limited2 a widow s pension is a recurring survivor s benefit that a surviving spouse may be entitled to receive as a beneficiary of a pension plan retirement account social security3 or a va survivors pension4 the criteria for qualifying for these benefits will vary and will usually be spelled out in the written documentation and policies dictated in the program terms and guidelines likewise the formula for determining the amount of these allowance payments will also be dictated by the program can i claim both retirement and survivor s benefits yes however do note that a spousal allowance is not a survivor s benefit a a widow s allowance widower s allowance or spousal allowance is intended to fill a short term gap whereas a survivor s benefit as determined by social security supports a surviving family member long term claiming retirement is both different and compatible with claiming survivor s benefits you can do both 