Your Social Security continues, but your spouse's benefit stops

When your spouse dies, their Social Security benefit ends when ready. Your own benefit does not stop — it continues at the same rate you were receiving. However, you may become may be able to access for a different benefit based on your spouse's work record, and the amount you receive could change. The specific benefit you receive depends on your age when your spouse dies, whether you have children under 16, and your own work history.

Social Security does not automatically switch you to a new benefit type. You must contact Social Security to report the death and ask about any benefits you may be may have access to to receive. The sooner you report it, the sooner any payment changes can take effect.

Key Takeaways

  • Your own Social Security benefit continues unchanged when your spouse dies, but you may become may have access to to a higher benefit based on their work record.
  • Widow or widower benefits are available at age 60 (or age 50 if you are disabled), and at any age if you are caring for your spouse's child under age 16.
  • If you were receiving a spousal benefit based on your spouse's record, that benefit stops when they die, but you may then receive a widow or widower benefit instead.
  • You must contact Social Security to report your spouse's death; the agency does not learn about it automatically from death certificates.
  • The amount of widow or widower benefit depends on your age and your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount, which is the benefit amount they were receiving or may have access to to receive.

Widow and widower benefits at different ages

A widow or widower benefit is a Social Security payment based on your deceased spouse's work record. The age at which you can receive this benefit, and the amount you receive, depends on how old you are when your spouse dies.

At age 60 or older, you can receive a widow or widower benefit. The amount is a percentage of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount — the benefit they were receiving or would have received at their full retirement age. If you claim at 60, you receive about 71.5 percent of that amount. The closer you are to your full retirement age when you claim, the higher the percentage. At your full retirement age (which varies by birth year, from 66 to 67), you receive 100 percent of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount.

If you are between 50 and 59 and disabled, you can also receive a widow or widower benefit. The amount is about 71.5 percent of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount. Social Security uses its own definition of disability, which is stricter than many other programs.

At any age, you can receive a widow or widower benefit if you are caring for your spouse's child who is under age 16 (or who was disabled before age 22). This is called a widow or widower caring for child benefit. The amount is 75 percent of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount. This benefit ends when the youngest child turns 16, unless that child is disabled.

How your benefit changes if you were already receiving spousal benefits

If you were receiving a spousal benefit — a payment based on your spouse's work record while they were alive — that benefit stops when your spouse dies. However, you do not lose the money. Instead, you become may have access to to a widow or widower benefit, which is usually higher than the spousal benefit you were receiving.

The widow or widower benefit is calculated differently than a spousal benefit. A spousal benefit is typically 32.5 percent of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount (if you claim at your full retirement age). A widow or widower benefit at your full retirement age is 100 percent of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount. Even if you claim a widow or widower benefit before your full retirement age, it is usually more than the spousal benefit was.

Social Security will not automatically switch you to the widow or widower benefit. You must report your spouse's death and ask Social Security to change your benefit type. Once you do, the new benefit amount takes effect the month after your spouse dies.

How your benefit changes if you were receiving your own retirement benefit

If you were receiving your own retirement benefit based on your own work record, that benefit continues unchanged when your spouse dies. You do not automatically switch to a widow or widower benefit.

However, you may be may have access to to a widow or widower benefit that is higher than your own retirement benefit. Social Security calls this a widow or widower benefit in addition to your own retirement benefit. To receive it, you must contact Social Security and ask them to evaluate whether you may have access to.

The way this works: Social Security calculates what your widow or widower benefit would be based on your spouse's work record. If that amount is higher than your own retirement benefit, you receive the difference between the two. This is called a combined benefit. The total you receive is the higher of the two amounts, not the sum of both.

For example, if your own retirement benefit is $1,200 per month and your widow or widower benefit would be $1,500 per month, Social Security pays you $1,500 total — not $2,700. You receive the higher amount, and Social Security pays the difference as a widow or widower benefit.

How to report your spouse's death to Social Security

You can report your spouse's death to Social Security in three ways: by phone, in person, or by mail. The fastest method is usually by phone.

By phone: Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Have your spouse's Social Security number and death certificate available. Social Security representatives can answer questions about your benefits at the same time.

In person: Visit your local Social Security office. You can find the address and hours on Social Security's website. Bring your spouse's death certificate and your own identification.

By mail: Send a copy of your spouse's death certificate to your local Social Security office. Include a note with your spouse's name, Social Security number, and your own contact information. Mail is slower than phone or in-person reporting, so use this method only if you cannot reach Social Security by other means.

After you report the death, Social Security will review your case and determine what benefits you are may have access to to receive. This review can take several weeks. During this time, continue to receive your current benefit. Once Social Security completes the review, they will notify you of any changes to your benefit amount.

What happens to your spouse's benefit after they die

Your spouse's Social Security benefit stops the month they die. Social Security will not pay a benefit for the month of death, even if your spouse was alive for part of that month.

If your spouse received a payment after they died — for example, if a check was mailed before Social Security learned of the death — you must return that payment. Social Security will contact you about this. Do not spend the money, as you will be required to repay it.

If your spouse had not yet claimed Social Security when they died, no benefit is paid for them. However, their work record remains on file and can be used to calculate benefits for you and any may be able to access family members.

Family members who may receive benefits based on your spouse's record

Besides you, other family members may receive benefits based on your deceased spouse's work record. These include:

  • Children under 19 (or under 23 if still in high school full-time) receive a child benefit equal to 75 percent of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount.
  • Children disabled before age 22 receive a child benefit at any age, equal to 75 percent of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount.
  • Your spouse's ex-spouse (if the marriage lasted at least 10 years) may receive a widow or widower benefit under the same rules as you.
  • Your spouse's parents (if your spouse was supporting them) may receive a parent benefit equal to 75 percent of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount, if they are age 62 or older.

Each family member's benefit is calculated separately, but there is a family maximum. The total amount paid to all family members based on your spouse's record cannot exceed 150 to 180 percent of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount. If the total would exceed this limit, each family member's benefit is reduced proportionally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a certain age to receive a widow or widower benefit?

You can receive a widow or widower benefit at age 60, or at age 50 if you are disabled. At any age, you can receive a widow or widower caring for child benefit if you are caring for your spouse's child under age 16. If you are younger than 50 and not caring for a child, you cannot receive a widow or widower benefit until you reach 50.

What if my spouse and I were divorced?

If your marriage lasted at least 10 years, you may receive a widow or widower benefit based on your ex-spouse's work record after they die. The rules are the same as for current spouses. You do not need permission from your ex-spouse's family, and receiving this benefit does not reduce benefits paid to your ex-spouse's current spouse or children.

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

You receive whichever is higher. If your widow or widower benefit is higher than your own retirement benefit, Social Security pays you the higher amount. You do not receive both amounts added together.

What if I claimed my own retirement benefit early — does that affect my widow or widower benefit?

Yes. If you claimed your own retirement benefit before your full retirement age, your widow or widower benefit is also reduced. The reduction is based on your age when you claim the widow or widower benefit, not your age when you claimed your own benefit.

How long does it take for my benefit to change after my spouse dies?

Social Security typically processes the death and reviews your case within two to four weeks. However, if there are complications — such as questions about your marriage or your spouse's work record — it can take longer. Contact Social Security if you have not heard back within a month.