What widow benefits are and who can receive them

Widow benefits are monthly payments from Social Security to a surviving spouse after the worker has died. You do not have to be a certain age to receive them, though the amount you get depends on your age when you start collecting. The earliest you can claim is age 50 if you are disabled, or age 60 if you are not disabled. If you wait until your full retirement age (which varies by birth year, typically between 66 and 67), you receive a larger monthly payment.

You must have been married to the worker for at least nine months before their death to be considered a widow or widower. There are a few exceptions to this nine-month rule — for example, if the death was accidental or resulted from a service-related injury — but in most cases, the nine months must have passed.

Social Security also pays benefits to widows and widowers who are caring for the worker's child under age 16, regardless of the caregiver's age. These are sometimes called "mother's benefits" or "father's benefits," though either spouse can receive them.

Key Takeaways

  • Widow benefits are based on the worker's Social Security record, not your own work history, and you can claim as early as age 50 if disabled or age 60 if not disabled.
  • The amount you receive depends on your age when you claim — waiting until your full retirement age results in a significantly higher monthly payment.
  • You must have been married for at least nine months before the worker's death, with limited exceptions for accidental death or military service.
  • You can receive widow benefits at any age if you are caring for the worker's child under age 16, even if you have not reached age 50.
  • You will need the worker's death certificate and your marriage certificate when you contact Social Security to report the death and begin the process.

How the payment amount is calculated

Your widow benefit is a percentage of what the worker was receiving or would have received at their full retirement age. Social Security calls this the worker's "Primary Insurance Amount" or PIA. If the worker had already started collecting Social Security, your benefit is based on that amount. If they had not yet claimed, Social Security calculates what they would have received at their full retirement age.

The exact percentage depends on your age when you claim. If you claim at age 60 (the earliest age for non-disabled widows), you receive about 71.5 percent of the worker's PIA. If you wait until your full retirement age, you receive 100 percent. If you claim between age 60 and your full retirement age, the percentage falls somewhere in between. The longer you wait, the more you receive each month.

If you are caring for a child under 16, you receive 75 percent of the worker's PIA regardless of your age. This amount does not increase if you wait to claim — it stays the same whether you start at age 30 or age 50.

When to claim: age 60, age 50 (if disabled), or your full retirement age

Deciding when to claim widow benefits involves weighing the monthly payment amount against how long you expect to collect. Claiming at 60 gives you the smallest monthly check but lets you start receiving money sooner. Waiting until your full retirement age gives you a much larger monthly payment, but you receive nothing in the years between 60 and that age.

If you become disabled before age 60, you can claim widow benefits as early as age 50. Disability in this context means you have a condition that prevents you from working and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. You will need to provide medical evidence to Social Security, and they will make the information of whether your condition meets their definition.

There is no financial penalty for claiming early — you straightforward receive a smaller monthly amount. Some people claim at 60 because they need the income when ready. Others wait until their full retirement age because they do not need the money right away and want the larger payment. There is no "right" answer; it depends on your circumstances.

How to report the worker's death and start the process

When the worker dies, the funeral home or hospital typically reports the death to Social Security automatically. However, you should contact Social Security yourself to make sure they have the information and to begin the process of claiming widow benefits. You can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, visit your local Social Security office in person, or create an account at ssa.gov to manage your claim online.

Have the following documents ready when you contact Social Security: the worker's Social Security number, your Social Security number, the worker's death certificate, your marriage certificate, and your birth certificate. If you have been divorced and remarried, bring divorce decrees as well. Social Security will ask for these to verify your relationship to the worker and confirm your identity.

After you report the death, Social Security will send you information about what benefits may be available to you and your family. They will explain the different ages at which you can claim and what each payment amount would be. You do not have to decide when ready — you can take time to think about when you want to start collecting.

Widow benefits if you are working or have other income

If you claim widow benefits before your full retirement age and you are still working, Social Security will reduce your monthly payment if your earnings exceed a certain limit. For 2024, if you are under your full retirement age for the entire year, Social Security deducts one dollar from your benefits for every two dollars you earn above the limit. The limit changes each year.

In the year you reach your full retirement age, the reduction is smaller — one dollar for every three dollars earned — and only applies to earnings before the month you reach full retirement age. Once you reach your full retirement age, you can earn as much as you want with no reduction to your benefits.

Other income, such as pensions, investments, or rental income, does not affect your widow benefits. The earnings limit applies only to wages from work.

Widow benefits and remarriage

If you remarry before age 60, you lose your widow benefits. The benefits stop the month you remarry, and you cannot restart them later. If you remarry at age 60 or later, you keep your widow benefits and they continue unchanged.

There is an exception: if you remarry and then that marriage ends (through death, divorce, or annulment), you may be able to claim widow benefits on your previous spouse's record again. The rules around this are complex and depend on the timing of your remarriage and the end of that marriage. Contact Social Security directly if this situation applies to you.

How widow benefits interact with your own Social Security record

Widow benefits are separate from any Social Security benefits you may be may have access to to based on your own work history. You can receive widow benefits, your own retirement benefits, or a combination of both — but Social Security will not pay you more than the highest benefit you are may have access to to.

If you have worked and paid into Social Security, you will have your own Primary Insurance Amount. Social Security will calculate both your widow benefit and your own retirement benefit, then pay you whichever is higher. You cannot receive both in full; you receive one monthly payment equal to the larger of the two amounts.

This matters if you are deciding when to claim. If your own retirement benefit at your full retirement age would be higher than your widow benefit, it may make sense to claim widow benefits early (at 60 or 50 if disabled) and then switch to your own retirement benefit later when it is larger. The rules around switching between benefits have changed in recent years, so ask Social Security about your specific situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my adult children receive widow benefits?

No. Widow benefits go only to the surviving spouse (or ex-spouse under certain conditions). However, unmarried children of the worker under age 19 (or up to age 23 if they are full-time students) can receive their own benefits based on the worker's record. These are called "child benefits," not widow benefits.

What happens to widow benefits if I move out of the country?

You can receive widow benefits while living outside the United States, with some exceptions. Citizens of certain countries may face restrictions. Contact Social Security before you move to find out whether your benefits will continue and what steps you need to take.

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

Yes, if you were married for at least 10 years and have not remarried before age 60. Divorced widow benefits work the same way as widow benefits for current spouses — you can claim as early as age 50 if disabled or age 60 if not disabled, and the amount is based on the worker's record.

Do I have to wait for the death certificate before I contact Social Security?

No. You can contact Social Security as soon as the death occurs. They can begin the process with just the worker's name and Social Security number. You will need to provide the official death certificate later, but you do not have to wait for it to report the death or ask questions about your benefits.

What if the worker had not yet claimed Social Security when they died?

Your widow benefit is still based on what the worker would have received at their full retirement age. Social Security calculates this amount using their earnings record. You do not need the worker to have already claimed benefits for you to receive widow benefits.