Social Security Survivors Benefits Explained
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: November 2, 2023
We are here for surviving family members when a worker dies. In the event of your death, certain members of your family may be eligible for survivors’ benefits. These include widows and widowers, divorced widows and widowers, children, and dependent parents.
The amount of benefits your survivors receive depends on your lifetime earnings. The higher your earnings, the higher their benefits. That’s why it’s important to make sure your earnings history is correct in our records. That starts with creating your personal my Social Security account.
A my Social Security account is secure and gives you immediate access to your earnings records, Social Security benefit estimates, and a printable Social Security Statement. The Statement will let you see an estimate of the survivors benefits we could pay your family.
You may also want to visit our Benefits Planner for Survivors to help you better understand Social Security protections for you and your family as you plan for your financial future.
Please visit our website or read our publication, Survivors Benefits, for more information. You can also help us spread the word by sharing this information with your family and friends.
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Tags: my Social Security, my Social Security account, Social Security benefits, survivors benefits
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Dawn Bystry, Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
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Ann P.
My ex-husband died 2 days ago on Saturday. We were married 32 years. He remarried and his wife died last year. He relocated to same state where I live. I understand I should/need to contact SS and inform them however how should I do this when the local offices are not accepting calls and this has been almost 45 minutes. I realize this is a very busy time however I? I have read most of the information provided on this site but do not see where I should give notice of his death.
I do not feel comfortable signing up for another web sight when this one has such a wait.
A.C.
Hi, Ann. We are sorry to hear about your loss. Typically, the funeral director notifies us directly to report a death. To verify, you can contact your local Social Security office for assistance. We hope this helps.
Marco
My spouse earned enough credits to get a social security pension, but I have been a higher earner. The question is 2-fold:
1) If she starts collecting her social security, can she switch to mine if I die before she does?
2) If she decides not to collect her s.s., and I die before age 67, will she get a better widower pension if she waits until her full retirement age (67-70)?
Thanks
A.C.
Hi, Marco. Thanks for your questions. If already receiving retirement benefits, she can only apply for benefits as a widow if the retirement benefit she receives is less than the benefits she would receive as a survivor. Additionally, the amount of her widow’s benefit is based on several factors, including: your earnings, when you started receiving your benefits, her age, and the amount of her own retirement benefit. We compare her own benefit with her potential survivor benefit. If her survivor benefit would be higher than her own current retirement benefit, she would be eligible for survivor benefits. For more information, visit our Planning For Your Survivors page. We hope this helps.
Jessica Y.
So how do i go about getting it on my dad passing away?
A.C.
Hi, Jessica. We are sorry to hear about your loss. Certain eligible family members may be able to receive monthly survivor benefits. For more information on this, please read How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies. We hope this helps.
Michael T.
I am 63 years of age and still working. My wife passed away on 1/4/2021. Can I apply and receive spouse survivors benefits and still keep my full time job? If so how long can I receive the benefits. I plan to retire at the end of December 2022.
A.C.
Hi, Michael. We are sorry to hear about your loss. If she worked long enough to be insured under Social Security, you may be eligible for a Lump Sum Death Payment. To file for the benefit, call 1-800-772-1213 and request an appointment with your local office. You must file the application for the lump-sum death payment within two years of your wife’s death. As far as survivors benefits, keep in mind you are subject to an earnings limit. We use the following earnings limits to reduce your benefits: If you are under full retirement age for the entire year, we deduct $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2022 that limit is $19,560. We hope this helps.
Rebecca
My husband died in February. We both receive SSDI. I’m not eligible for widows benefit because I’m not 50 yet. Aren’t I at least eligible to collect his amount since it was higher than mine? im going to lose my home because of this.
Being disabled is hard enough, losing my husband was also hard enough, but to find out I have no safety net because I dont meet an age requirement is cruel.
A.C.
Hi, Rebecca. We are sorry to hear about your loss and your situation. You may be eligible to receive social services from the state in which you live. These services include free meals, housekeeping help, transportation, or help with other problems. To get information about services in your area and find out if you qualify, you will need to contact your state or local social services or welfare office. We hope this helps.
Peggy B.
my husband died almost a year ago, question is can I take any of the funeral expenses on my taxes ?
A.C.
Hi, Peggy. We are sorry to hear about your loss. For tax questions, you will need to contact the IRS. Their toll-free number is 1-800-829-1040 or you can visit their website. We hope this helps.
Matt c.
I seriously doubt that. Unless u lie about what it spent on☹️ Then you’ll really be in trouble with the gov!
Sarah N.
I was married to my husband 40 years, then we divorced. He remarried, I did not. He was the breadwinner and he and I are both 70 and receiving Social Security. Being that he remarried, if he dies before I do would I be entitled to any of his Soc Sec survivor benefit?
A.C.
Hi, Sarah. Thanks for your question. If you are the surviving divorced spouse of a worker and you are not married, you may get benefits just the same as a widow or widower. For more information, please visit our webpage, Survivors Planner:If You Are The Survivor. We hope this information helps.
Mary
I receive widow benefit since I turn 66 in December ( which is full retirement age)how much can I earn this year.
A.C.
Hi, Mary. if you were born between 1943 and 1954, then your full retirement age for retirement insurance benefits is 66. If you are younger than full retirement age and make more than the yearly earnings limit, this can reduce the number of payments you receive through the year. For 2022 that limit is $19, 560. If receive benefits prior to attainment of full retirement age, and work part-time thereafter, you will be considered “retired” only if your monthly earnings are $1630 or less. In the year of your full retirement age, the limit is $51,960. If you work and are full retirement age or older, you may keep all of your benefits, no matter how much you earn, starting with the month you reach your full retirement age. Please visit our Retirement Planner: Receiving Benefits While Working for more information. If you have specific questions about your situation, please call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 and speak with one of our agents. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. You can also contact your local Social Security office directly. We hope this helps.
Robert F.
I am 62 my spouse is 56 if I die first between the ages of 62 and 65 as I plan to apply for my social security at age 66 when is the best time for my spouse to collect surviving benefits. Does my spouse collect what my amount would have been at the time of death or a percentage amount. I understand my spouse can not collect until 60. If my spouse waits until full retirement age to collect as I am the higher wage earner is it to their benefit to wait until FRA to collect more money from surviving benefits or is there no benefit for my spouse to wait to collect as the surviving spouse.
A.C.
Hi, Robert. Thanks for visiting our blog. Please bear in mind that the decision on when to apply for benefits is a personal one. We can only provide your wife with the information to help her make the best choice according to her own situation. The amount of her widow’s benefit is based on several factors, including: your earnings, when your started receiving your benefits, her age, and the amount of her own retirement benefit. We compare her own benefit with her potential survivor benefit. If her survivor benefit would be higher than your her current retirement benefit, she would be eligible for survivor benefits. For more information about survivor benefits, please visit our Planning For Your Survivors page. We hope this helps.
Rhonda S.
My x husband passed away two years ago and one of daughters was 17 years old . I just found out that she could of collected benefits until the ago of 18. Is there retroactive coverage available? I was married for 15 years. Is there any benefits for me?
A.C.
Hi, Rhonda. Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. Your daughter can contact her local Social Security office to inquire about any potential benefits. As far as surviving divorced spouse benefits, if you are the divorced spouse of a worker who died and you are not married, you could get benefits just the same as a widow as early as age 60 (age 50 if disabled). For more information, please visit our webpage, If You Are The Survivor. We hope this information helps.