When a spouse dies, the household loses one of its Social Security checks. The surviving spouse generally keeps the larger of the two benefits, not both. Understanding survivor benefits — and how they interact with your own benefit — can make a significant difference to income for the rest of your life.
Key Takeaways
- A surviving spouse can receive up to 100% of the deceased worker’s benefit, including delayed retirement credits, if claimed at the survivor’s full retirement age.
- Survivor benefits can start as early as 60 (50 if disabled), at a reduced rate.
- Deemed filing does not apply to survivor benefits, so survivors can often take one benefit first and switch to the other later.
- Remarrying before age 60 generally ends eligibility for survivor benefits on the former spouse’s record.
Contact the Social Security Administration promptly after a death. Survivor rules are complex, and SSA can explain options for your situation.
Who qualifies
Survivor benefits may be available to:
- A widow or widower aged 60 or older (50 or older if disabled)
- A surviving spouse of any age caring for the deceased’s child under 16 or disabled
- Unmarried children under 18 (or up to 19 if in school), or disabled children
- Dependent parents aged 62 or older
- A surviving divorced spouse, if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, in many cases
There are marriage duration requirements, generally at least nine months, with exceptions.
How much
A surviving spouse at full retirement age can receive 100% of the deceased worker’s benefit.
If the deceased had already claimed:
- If they claimed early, the survivor benefit is based on the reduced benefit, subject to a minimum (generally at least 82.5% of the deceased’s PIA).
- If they delayed and earned delayed retirement credits, the survivor benefit includes those credits.
This is why the higher earner’s claiming age matters for the surviving spouse.
Claiming early
Survivor benefits can begin at 60, reduced. At 60, the benefit is about 71.5% of the full survivor amount. The reduction decreases gradually until the survivor’s full retirement age for survivor benefits.
The switching strategy
Deemed filing — which forces you to receive the higher of your own and spousal benefits — does not apply to survivor benefits. This allows several strategies:
Take survivor benefits first, switch to your own later. A widow whose own benefit would be larger at 70 might claim a reduced survivor benefit at 60, then switch to her own maximised benefit at 70.
Take your own benefit first, switch to survivor later. If the survivor benefit at full retirement age will be larger, a survivor might claim their own reduced benefit at 62 and switch to the full survivor benefit at full retirement age.
The best choice depends on the relative sizes of both benefits at different ages.
Remarriage rules
- Remarrying before 60 (or before 50 if disabled) generally ends eligibility for survivor benefits on the former spouse’s record, unless the later marriage ends.
- Remarrying at 60 or later does not affect eligibility.
The lump-sum death payment
Social Security pays a one-time death payment of $255 to an eligible surviving spouse or child. This amount has not changed in decades.
Steps after a spouse’s death
- Notify Social Security. Funeral homes often do this, but confirm.
- Ask about survivor benefits and your options at different ages.
- Ask about your own benefit, and which to take first.
- Return any payment for the month of death if required; SSA will explain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive my own benefit and a survivor benefit together? You receive the higher amount, not both.
Does the survivor benefit include cost-of-living adjustments? Yes.
Can a divorced spouse receive survivor benefits? Often yes, if the marriage lasted at least 10 years.
Does working affect survivor benefits? Before full retirement age, the earnings test can reduce benefits.
The bottom line
Survivor benefits are among the most valuable parts of Social Security. Married couples should consider them when deciding when to claim, and survivors should explore switching strategies with SSA.
