What widowers can receive from Social Security

A widower — a man whose wife has died — may receive monthly payments from Social Security based on his wife's work record if he meets certain conditions. The amount depends on his age, whether he is caring for children, and his wife's lifetime earnings. Social Security does not require him to have worked or to have contributed to the system himself to receive these payments.

The most common type of widower benefit is a widow's benefit, which a widower can claim at age 60 or later. A widower caring for his wife's child under age 16 can claim at any age. There is also a one-time lump-sum death benefit of $255 that may be paid to the household when the wife dies, though only one person per household receives it.

Widowers who were married to a woman who worked long enough under Social Security — typically 10 years or more — are most likely to have a benefit available. The wife does not need to have been receiving benefits herself at the time of her death.

Key Takeaways

  • A widower can receive monthly benefits based on his wife's Social Security record if he is age 60 or older, or any age if he is caring for her child under 16.
  • The amount a widower receives is a percentage of what his wife would have received at her full retirement age, and the percentage depends on his age when he starts collecting.
  • A widower who remarries before age 60 loses the right to benefits based on his first wife's record, though he may be able to claim based on his new wife's record later.
  • Widowers who also worked can choose to receive their own Social Security benefit instead of a widow's benefit, whichever is larger.
  • The Social Security Administration must be notified of the wife's death, and the widower will need to provide a death certificate and proof of marriage to begin receiving payments.

Age requirements for widower benefits

A widower can claim a widow's benefit at age 60 or later. If he waits until his full retirement age — which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on birth year — the monthly payment will be larger than if he claims at 60. For every year he delays claiming past age 60, the benefit amount increases.

A widower of any age can claim a benefit if he is caring for his wife's biological, adopted, or stepchild who is under age 16. This is called a widow caring for children benefit. The child must be receiving a benefit on the wife's record as well. Once the youngest child turns 16, the widower's benefit stops, though the child's benefit continues until age 19 if the child is in high school full-time.

A widower who is disabled may be able to claim at age 50 if the disability began before or within seven years after his wife's death. The Social Security Administration evaluates disability using its own definition, which is strict and requires medical evidence.

How the benefit amount is calculated

The widower's monthly payment is based on a percentage of the primary insurance amount — the amount his wife would have received at her full retirement age. The percentage depends on the widower's age when he starts collecting.

If a widower claims at age 60, he typically receives 71.5 percent of his wife's full retirement benefit. If he waits until age 66 or 67 (his full retirement age), he receives 100 percent of what his wife would have received. The exact percentages vary slightly depending on birth year. A widower who claims before his full retirement age and continues to work may have his benefit reduced if his earnings exceed a certain threshold — $23,400 in 2024, though this amount changes yearly.

If the widower also worked and earned his own Social Security benefit, he can choose which benefit to receive: his own or the widow's benefit. Social Security will pay whichever is larger. He cannot receive both at the same time.

Remarriage and its effect on benefits

A widower who remarries before age 60 loses the right to receive benefits based on his first wife's record. If he remarries at age 60 or later, he can continue to receive the widow's benefit from his first wife. He may also be able to claim a benefit based on his new wife's record if she has worked under Social Security.

If a widower remarries and then divorces or his new spouse dies, he may regain the right to claim on his first wife's record, provided he meets the age and other requirements. The rules are complex, and the Social Security Administration can explain what applies to his specific situation.

Work earnings and benefit reduction

A widower who claims benefits before his full retirement age and continues to work will have his benefit reduced if his annual earnings exceed a limit set by Social Security. In 2024, the limit is $23,400 per year. For every $2 earned above this limit, $1 is withheld from the benefit. Once the widower reaches his full retirement age, there is no earnings limit, and he receives his full benefit regardless of how much he works.

The earnings limit applies only to wages and self-employment income. It does not explore to investment income, pensions, annuities, or other types of income. A widower should report his expected earnings to Social Security when he claims, as the agency uses this information to calculate his payments.

The one-time lump-sum death benefit

When a wife dies, Social Security pays a one-time lump-sum death benefit of $255 to the household. Only one person receives this payment. It typically goes to the surviving spouse if he was living with the wife at the time of her death, or to a child who was receiving benefits on her record.

The death benefit is separate from monthly widow's benefits and does not reduce the amount a widower can receive each month. To receive it, the widower must contact Social Security and provide a death certificate. The payment is usually made within a few weeks.

How to start receiving widower benefits

To begin receiving widower benefits, the widower must contact Social Security directly. He can visit a local Social Security office, call 1-800-772-1213, or start the process online at ssa.gov. He will need to provide several documents, including a death certificate for his wife, proof of marriage (such as a marriage certificate), and proof of his age (such as a birth certificate).

Social Security will verify that his wife worked long enough under Social Security to have a benefit available. If she did, the agency will calculate the widower's benefit amount based on his age and his wife's earnings record. The widower can ask Social Security to explain the calculation and to show him what his wife's full retirement benefit would have been.

The widower should explore as soon as possible after his wife's death. Benefits can be paid retroactively for up to six months in some cases, but only if the widower was already age 60 or older when his wife died. If he applies later, he may miss out on payments he could have received.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a widower receive benefits if his wife did not work under Social Security?

No. To receive a widower's benefit, the wife must have worked under Social Security long enough to earn a benefit. This typically means at least 10 years of work. If the wife did not meet this requirement, no widower's benefit is available. The widower may still receive the $255 lump-sum death benefit if he was living with his wife at the time of her death.

What happens to a widower's benefit if he starts working again?

If the widower claims before his full retirement age and earns more than $23,400 per year, his monthly benefit will be reduced by $1 for every $2 he earns above that limit. Once he reaches his full retirement age, he can work and earn as much as he wants without any reduction to his benefit. The earnings limit changes each year.

Can a widower receive both his own Social Security benefit and a widow's benefit?

No. A widower receives whichever benefit is larger — his own or the widow's benefit — but not both. Social Security calculates both amounts and pays the higher one. If the widower worked under Social Security himself, he should ask the agency to compare his own benefit to the widow's benefit before he decides which one to claim.

Does a widower lose benefits if he remarries?

If a widower remarries before age 60, he loses the right to receive benefits based on his first wife's record. If he remarries at age 60 or later, he can keep receiving the widow's benefit from his first wife. He may also be able to claim a benefit based on his new wife's record if she has worked under Social Security.

How long does it take to receive the first widower benefit payment?

After the widower submits his process and required documents, Social Security typically processes the claim within two to three months. The first payment is usually made by direct deposit or check within a few weeks after the claim is approved. The widower should contact Social Security if he does not receive his first payment within the expected timeframe.