If your spouse predeceases you, this flowchart can be invaluable in helping you decide what to do moving forward, regarding your Social Security benefit.
Depending on the situation you find yourself in, you may be eligible for Social Security survivor benefits based on the benefit of your late spouse. This may create a planning opportunity to delay claiming your own benefit until age 70, allowing it to grow to its absolute maximum, and use the survivor benefit to fill your income needs until then.