AARP provides some helpful information:

Under Social Security law, when a person who has worked and paid Social Security taxes dies, certain members of that person's family may be eligible for survivor benefits based on the earnings records of their deceased spouses. Benefits also go to many children of deceased workers.

Below is a partial list of who may be eligible to receive survivor benefits. Please be aware that the rules are complicated and the best source for personal information is Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Widows and widowers

• Widows and widowers who have reached full retirement age generally receive 100 percent of the spouse's benefit.
• They can take reduced survivor benefits as early as age 60-- or age 50 if disabled.
• If they are under full retirement age, they receive about 71.5 to 99 percent of the worker's benefit.
• They can receive benefits at any age if they take care of the deceased's child if the child is under age 16 or disabled. The individual caring for the child receives 75 percent of the worker's benefit.