How Survivor Benefits Work for a Spouse

When a worker who paid into Social Security dies, their surviving spouse may receive monthly payments based on that worker's earnings record. The amount depends on the worker's age at death, how long they paid into the system, and the survivor's own age when they start collecting. Social Security does not automatically send these payments — the surviving spouse must contact Social Security to report the death and request survivor benefits.

A surviving spouse can receive benefits at any age if they are caring for the worker's child who is under 16, or at age 50 or older if they are disabled. If neither of those conditions applies, a surviving spouse can claim reduced benefits as early as age 60, or full benefits at their own full retirement age. The full retirement age for survivor benefits is the same as it is for the worker's own retirement benefits — between 66 and 67 for most people alive today.

Key Takeaways

  • A surviving spouse can receive benefits based on the deceased worker's earnings, even if the spouse never worked or paid into Social Security.
  • A surviving spouse caring for the worker's child under 16 can receive benefits at any age, with no reduction for early claiming.
  • A surviving spouse age 60 or older can claim reduced benefits at 60 or full benefits at their full retirement age, which is between 66 and 67 for most people.
  • The surviving spouse must contact Social Security within a few months of the worker's death to report the death and request benefits.
  • The amount a surviving spouse receives is a percentage of what the deceased worker would have received at their full retirement age.

When You Can Start Collecting as a Surviving Spouse

Your age and circumstances determine when you can start receiving survivor benefits. If you are caring for the worker's biological, adopted, or stepchild who is under 16 years old, you can receive benefits at any age with no reduction. This benefit ends when the youngest child turns 16, unless you are disabled.

If you are not caring for a child under 16, you must be at least 60 years old to receive any survivor benefits. At age 60, you can claim reduced benefits — typically around 71.5 percent of the worker's full benefit amount. If you wait until your full retirement age (between 66 and 67 for most people), you receive the full amount, which is usually around 100 percent of what the worker would have received at their full retirement age.

If you are disabled, you can receive benefits as early as age 50, even if you are not caring for a child. The disability must have started before the worker died or within seven years after their death. Social Security will evaluate your disability using the same standards they use for other disability claims.

How Much You Will Receive

The amount you receive is calculated as a percentage of the deceased worker's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) — the benefit amount they would have received at their full retirement age. The exact percentage depends on your age when you claim and your relationship to the worker.

A surviving spouse at full retirement age receives 100 percent of the worker's PIA. A surviving spouse at age 60 receives about 71.5 percent. A surviving spouse caring for a child under 16 receives 75 percent. A surviving disabled spouse age 50 to 59 receives about 71.5 percent. These percentages can vary slightly based on the year and the worker's birth year.

The total amount paid to all family members on one worker's record cannot exceed a family maximum, which is typically 150 to 180 percent of the worker's PIA. If multiple survivors are collecting — such as a spouse and children — Social Security divides the family maximum among them, which may reduce each person's individual benefit.

What Happens to Your Benefits If You Remarry

If you remarry before age 60, your survivor benefits will stop. If you remarry at age 60 or later, your benefits continue without interruption. This rule applies whether you remarry or not — the key is your age at the time of the new marriage.

If your benefits stopped because you remarried before age 60, they can restart if that marriage ends by death, divorce, or annulment. You would need to contact Social Security to report the change and request that benefits resume.

How to Report the Death and Request Benefits

You should report the worker's death to Social Security as soon as possible, ideally within a few months. You can do this by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, visiting a local Social Security office, or going online at ssa.gov. Have the worker's Social Security number and death certificate available when you contact them.

When you report the death, Social Security will ask you questions about your age, your relationship to the worker, whether you are caring for any children, and your work history. They will use this information to determine whether you are may have access to to survivor benefits and how much you should receive.

Social Security may ask you to provide documents such as a certified copy of the death certificate, your birth certificate, proof of marriage, and proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency. If you are caring for a child, you will need to provide the child's birth certificate as well. Having these documents ready speeds up the process.

Survivor Benefits and Your Own Work Record

You can receive survivor benefits based on the deceased worker's record even if you never worked or paid into Social Security yourself. Your own work history does not affect your right to survivor benefits or the amount you receive.

However, if you have your own Social Security retirement or disability benefit, Social Security will pay you the higher of the two amounts, not both. For example, if your own retirement benefit is $800 per month and your survivor benefit would be $1,200 per month, you receive $1,200. This is called the "deemed filing" rule, and it applies to most people born after January 1, 1954.

What Happens When You Reach Your Full Retirement Age

If you claimed survivor benefits before your full retirement age, your benefit amount increases when you reach full retirement age. Social Security automatically recalculates your benefit to the full amount at that time — you do not need to contact them.

If you continue working and earn income above a certain limit, Social Security may reduce your survivor benefits. For 2024, if you are under full retirement age and earn more than $23,400 per year, Social Security reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. This earnings test does not explore once you reach your full retirement age.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive survivor benefits if the worker and I were divorced?

Yes, if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and you have not remarried before age 60. You can receive the same benefits as a current spouse. If you remarried before age 60, your benefits stop, but they can restart if that marriage ends.

What if the worker did not have a Social Security record?

If the worker never worked or did not pay enough into Social Security to be insured, survivor benefits are not available. You can check the worker's record by contacting Social Security or visiting ssa.gov to see whether they had enough work credits to may have access to.

Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to receive survivor benefits?

No, but you must be a lawful resident of the United States. If you live outside the U.S., different rules may explore depending on your country of residence. Contact Social Security to discuss your specific situation.

Can my children receive benefits after I stop collecting?

Yes. Your children can continue to receive survivor benefits based on the worker's record until they turn 19 (or 23 if in high school full-time), even after you stop collecting. Each child's benefit is calculated separately based on the family maximum.

What if I was not married to the worker but we had a child together?

Your child may be may have access to to survivor benefits based on the worker's record. You would need to establish paternity or maternity through Social Security. Contact Social Security to learn what documents are needed to prove the parent-child relationship.