If your spouse is older than you and draws or will draw a bigger SS check than you and will probably die before you, it makes sense to get your Social Security as soon as you can. When one spouse dies and both are on SS, the surviving spouse gets the larger of the two checks.
My father was disabled due to triple bypass in his fifties. He drew a larger check than a regular SS check. (BTW, why does SS disability pay more?) My mother, 8 years younger and healthier than my father, started drawing her Social security at 62. It was a wise decision. When Dad died, Mom got his larger check, so her reduced benefits check no longer mattered.
I thought that if both husband and wife are collecting SS, that if husband dies earlier, surviving spouse will get her own SS or 1/2 of husbands which ever is larger.
Sorry for verry long sentence (pain meds..knee surgery today)
The surviving spouse gets to keep one check, she can choose which one she wants to keep. Good luck with surgery, both my husband and mother had knee replacement and they are both better than before surgery.