Dear Harry: My husband and I were married for 32 years when he passed away at the age of 73 in May 2005. I am now 57. He worked for the railroad for almost 50 years until he went on disability in 1988. I was informed then that I would not be able to collect his pension until I reach 62. I am now having all kinds of trouble making ends meet. At the time of his death I had two children at home, one 25 and the other a college student of 19. Why is it that I have to wait all this time to get his pension?

What Harry says: The quick answer is that the law says so. Ordinarily, a widow can receive the Railroad Retirement Pension (where the rules closely parallel Social Security rules) at age 60. However, she can get it earlier if she has a child at home who is not yet 19 and is a full-time student in an elementary or secondary school. This is why you were told you have to wait. Three more years is a long time to wait, so I urge you to get the best possible job until you are 60, and to reevaluate your situation then. It is unfortunate that your age difference helped to create your problem. We must all keep in mind that women in the United States have a life expectancy that is about five years longer than men's. When men marry younger women, we almost guarantee years of widowhood. Visiting any retirement community will bring this home forcefully.

Write Harry Gross c/o the Daily News, 400 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19130. Harry urges all his readers to give blood - contact the American Red Cross at 800-GIVE LIFE.