newly widowed family member needs financial advice

[Snydley]

My FIL passed away last week. His wife (my 'step-MIL') just sold their home in Florida and plans to move back to their hometown full-time where she will live at residences that are paid off. She sold the Florida home for 118K.
She needs that $ to last but cannot handle any risk (she is 71 and retired). I was thinking of suggesting that she move ~100K of the money to an Ally saving account to earn the 2% interest and buy a 10K I-Bond. Is this the best plan?

Also, she is saying she is not entitled to his social security because she gets more SS every month that he did and she can only collect on the larger amount, is this right? They were married for 25 years.

Also, can my husband's mother (the deceased first wife, who is still alive) collect any of his SS?

thanks

[disneysteve]

We really need to know the big picture, her income, and expenses. How much does she need that 110K to generate? What does the rest of her portfolio look like? Not really enough info here.

Also at 71 she may live another 20-30 years so she needs to have a growth component to her investments.

[Like2Plan]

Also, she is saying she is not entitled to his social security because she gets more SS every month that he did and she can only collect on the larger amount, is this right? They were married for 25 years.

Also, can my husband's mother (the deceased first wife, who is still alive) collect any of his SS?

thanks

So sorry for your loss.
Yes, I believe your step MIL is correct on her SS.

I believe your MIL may be entitled to claim off her ex husband’s record if certain conditions are met such as they were married for at least 10 years, she has not remarried (prior to age 60) and Is at least 60 years old.

https://www.ssa.gov/planners/survivors/ifyou.html

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