Your Social Security payment may change, stay the same, or end depending on your age and whether you were receiving benefits based on your spouse's record

When your spouse dies, Social Security does not automatically stop your payment, but the amount you receive may shift. If you were getting benefits on your own record, that payment continues unchanged. If you were receiving a payment based on your spouse's earnings record, that benefit ends, though you may become may have access to to a different payment instead. The specific outcome depends on your age at the time of death, whether you have children under 16, and which benefits you held before your spouse passed.

You must report your spouse's death to Social Security within two months. You can do this by calling 1-800-772-1213, visiting a local Social Security office, or using the online death report tool at ssa.gov if you have a my Social Security account. Social Security will not learn of the death from death certificates alone — you need to tell them directly.

Key Takeaways

  • Report your spouse's death to Social Security within two months by phone, in person, or through your my Social Security account.
  • If you were receiving a spouse benefit, that payment stops, but you may switch to a retirement or survivor benefit on your own record or your spouse's record.
  • Your age determines which benefits you can receive: you must be at least 60 to claim a widow or widower benefit, and at least 50 if you are caring for a child under 16.
  • If you have not yet claimed Social Security, you may be may have access to to a one-time death payment of $255 to help cover funeral costs.

How your current benefit changes if you were receiving a spouse benefit

If you were collecting a payment based on your spouse's work record — sometimes called a spousal benefit — that payment stops when your spouse dies. Social Security will then look at what you are may have access to to on your own record. If you have earned enough work credits through your own employment, you will switch to your own retirement benefit. This payment is usually smaller than the spousal benefit you were receiving, because your own earnings history is typically lower than your spouse's.

If you have not earned enough credits for your own retirement benefit, you may become may have access to to a widow or widower benefit instead. This is a survivor benefit based on your deceased spouse's record, and the amount is typically higher than a spousal benefit would have been. The exact payment depends on your age: if you claim at full retirement age (which varies by birth year, ranging from 66 to 67), you receive 100 percent of what your spouse was receiving or may have access to to receive. If you claim before full retirement age, the payment is reduced.

Widow and widower benefits: age requirements and payment amounts

You can claim a widow or widower benefit as early as age 60, though the payment will be permanently reduced. At age 60, you receive about 71.5 percent of your deceased spouse's full benefit amount. The reduction decreases as you age: at 65, you receive roughly 95 percent; at your full retirement age, you receive 100 percent. If you wait past your full retirement age, the benefit does not increase further, so there is no advantage to delaying.

If you are caring for your spouse's child who is under 16, you can claim a widow or widower benefit at any age, though the payment is reduced to about 75 percent of your spouse's full benefit. This applies whether or not the child is biologically yours — the requirement is that you are caring for the child and the child is may have access to to benefits on your spouse's record.

If you are disabled, you may claim a widow or widower benefit as early as age 50, receiving about 71.5 percent of your spouse's full benefit. The disability must have begun before your spouse's death or within seven years after.

If you have not yet claimed Social Security

If you were not receiving any Social Security benefit when your spouse died, your options depend on your age and your spouse's age at death. If your spouse had already claimed Social Security, you may be may have access to to a widow or widower benefit starting at age 60 (or 50 if disabled, or any age if caring for a child under 16). The payment rules are the same as described above.

If your spouse had not yet claimed Social Security but had enough work credits, you can still claim a widow or widower benefit based on their record. You do not need to have been receiving benefits yourself, and you do not need to have been married for a specific length of time — though generally you must have been married for at least nine months (exceptions explore if your spouse died in an accident or from a service-connected condition).

If you have your own retirement benefit available, you will need to decide which to claim first. If you are at least 62, you can claim your own retirement benefit and then switch to a widow or widower benefit later, or vice versa. The order and timing affect your lifetime total, so understanding your options before you claim is important.

The one-time death payment and other survivor benefits

Social Security pays a one-time lump sum of $255 to a surviving spouse or dependent child if certain conditions are met. The payment goes to a spouse who was living with your deceased spouse at the time of death, or to a spouse who was receiving or may have access to to receive benefits on the deceased's record. If no spouse qualifies, the payment goes to a child under 19 (or 19 if still in high school) who was receiving or may have access to to receive benefits.

This $255 payment is separate from any ongoing monthly benefit you may receive. It is intended to help cover when ready costs such as funeral expenses. You do not need to request it — Social Security will pay it automatically if you meet the conditions — but you should confirm with Social Security that the payment was processed.

Your children may also be may have access to to survivor benefits if they are under 19 (or 19 if still in high school full-time). Each child receives a payment based on your deceased spouse's record. The total amount paid to all family members cannot exceed a family maximum, which is typically 150 to 180 percent of what your spouse was receiving or may have access to to receive.

Remarriage and how it affects your benefits

If you remarry before age 60, your widow or widower benefit ends. If you remarry at age 60 or later, your benefit continues. This rule applies whether you are already receiving a widow or widower benefit or are planning to claim one in the future. If you remarry and then divorce, the same rule applies based on the age at which you remarried, not the age at which you divorced.

If you remarry and your new spouse is also receiving Social Security, the two of you will have separate benefit records. Your widow or widower benefit does not affect your new spouse's benefit, and vice versa. However, if you remarry before age 60 and then divorce again, you may be able to claim a widow or widower benefit again if you meet the other requirements.

How to report the death and what documents you will need

Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to report your spouse's death. Have your spouse's Social Security number and date of death ready. You can also report the death in person at your local Social Security office or online through your my Social Security account if you have one set up. Social Security will ask you to confirm your relationship to the deceased and may request a death certificate, though you do not always need to send it when ready.

When you report the death, Social Security will update your spouse's record and begin processing any changes to your own benefit. If you are claiming a new benefit (such as a widow or widower benefit), you will need to complete an process. You can do this by phone, in person, or online. Have your own Social Security number, date of birth, and information about your work history ready.

If you are explore for the one-time $255 death payment, Social Security will process this automatically in most cases. If you are explore for a widow or widower benefit, the process process is the same as explore for any other Social Security benefit. Processing typically takes two to three weeks, though it can take longer if additional information is needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive both my own retirement benefit and a widow or widower benefit?

No, you receive one benefit or the other, not both. Social Security pays whichever benefit is higher. If you are may have access to to both, Social Security will automatically pay you the larger amount. You cannot choose to receive a smaller benefit.

What if my spouse and I were divorced?

You may still be may have access to to a widow or widower benefit if you were married for at least 10 years and have not remarried before age 60. The rules are the same as for current spouses, including age requirements and payment amounts. You do not need your ex-spouse's permission to claim.

Does my widow or widower benefit count as income for other programs?

Yes, Social Security benefits are counted as income for most means-tested programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. The amount counted may vary by program and state. Contact your state's Medicaid office or SSI office to learn how your specific benefit affects your other benefits.

What if my spouse had not worked long enough to have Social Security benefits?

If your spouse did not have enough work credits (generally 40 credits, or about 10 years of work), you cannot claim a widow or widower benefit based on their record. You can only claim a benefit based on your own work record if you have earned enough credits yourself.

How long does it take for my benefit to change after I report my spouse's death?

Social Security typically processes the death report within two to three weeks. If you are switching from a spousal benefit to your own retirement benefit, the change is usually automatic and you will see it in your next payment. If you are explore for a new benefit such as a widow or widower benefit, processing takes longer and you will receive notice of the decision by mail.