16 soc.sec.rep.ser. 347, unempl.ins.rep. Cch 17,358 Josephine H. Ray, Delia M. Swift v. Otis R. Bowen, Secretary, Health and Human Services

HILL, Circuit Judge:

Delia M. Swift appeals from the district court’s order denying her claim for Social Security widow’s benefits as the legal widow of Edward Ray, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 402(e) and 416(h)(1)(A). The district court ordered the benefits payable on Edward Ray’s account to go instead to the competing claimant, appellee Josephine H. Ray, as the “deemed widow” of Edward Ray under 42 U.S.C. § 416(h)(1)(B). Although the district court made á commendable effort at achieving a fair and equitable result, a dispassionate reading of section 416(h)(1)(B) requires us to reverse.

BACKGROUND

E…