Widowhood: money decisions in the first year after losing a spouse

A surviving spouse has choices other beneficiaries don't. You can generally treat the IRA as your own or keep it as an inherited IRA in your name. If you're under 59½ and may need the money, an inherited IRA lets you take withdrawals without the 10% early-withdrawal penalty, though income tax still applies to pre-tax money. Most non-spouse beneficiaries, such as adult children, must empty an inherited account within 10 years.

Sources: IRS: Retirement topics, beneficiary · IRS Publication 559: Survivors, Executors, and Administrators

You can generally file a joint return for the year your spouse died if you haven't remarried by year-end. For the next two years, you may qualify as a qualifying surviving spouse if you have a dependent child living with you and meet the other IRS tests. Pub. 559 also covers the final return for your spouse.

Sources: IRS Publication 501: Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information · IRS Publication 559: Survivors, Executors, and Administrators

Often, yes. Social Security doesn't add the two together; you get the one that's best for you, and you can switch later. For example, you could start with survivor benefits and change to your own retirement benefit at 70, when that payment is highest.

Sources: SSA: What you could get from Survivor benefits · SSA: Survivor benefits

You may. Social Security says survivors might get Medicare based on the deceased spouse's work history if they're 65 or older, or have a disability or end-stage renal disease. Sign up during your initial enrollment window around your 65th birthday to avoid late penalties.

Sources: SSA: What you could get from Survivor benefits · Medicare.gov: When can I sign up for Medicare?