General, Survivors

Social Security Survivors Benefits Explained

December 16, 2021 • By

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Last Updated: November 2, 2023

Elderly man looking out the window while reviewing tabletWe 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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About the Author

Dawn Bystry, Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications

Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications

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Comments

  1. Duddly

    This is our money not the darn government’s money folks. They spend it but we pay it and it should go out to the family of survivors. What kind (excuse me sort) of government steals from its citizens like this. Not the one I voted for I can tell you that. Come on SSA. Give these two ladies a decent answer.

  2. kathryn b.

    my ex-husband passed away I am shy 4 months from the 10 year mark do I have a chance of getting his social security

    • Jovann

      Yes you do! Call SSA in the morning. The great thing about calling is that SSA can handle your situation over the phone.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Kathryn. To be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, you had to be married to your former spouse for at least 10 years, and you cannot be eligible for a higher benefit on your own record. For more information on how to qualify for divorced spouse benefits, visit our Benefits Planner page. Thanks! 

  3. Ricky J.

    My mom just passed away, is there any end of life benefits that our family can get? If so how would I do that?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Ricky. We are sorry to hear about your loss. Certain family members may be able to receive Social Security benefits if the deceased person worked long enough under Social Security to qualify for benefits. To see what benefits are available and who may qualify, please read our publication, How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies. We hope this helps. 

  4. Paula

    My husband passed away in 2007. At the time I was 46, now I am at 61 and just learned that I possibaly could draw his SS for Widows benifits. Is this correct? If so what do I do to get this started? And is there a time frame as to when i could file for this?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Paula. We are sorry for your loss. You are eligible to apply for survivor benefits when you reach age 60 (age 50 or over if disabled). However, there are other factors that may affect your entitlement to these benefits. You can find more information on survivors benefits on our If You Are The Survivor page. We hope this helps. 

  5. Betsy S.

    My husband of 54 yrs passes away Dec 2019.
    Since you pay a month behind, why did I not recieve a check in Jan for his December benefits

    • A.C.

      Hi, Betsy. We are sorry to hear of your loss. This may not be the news you were hoping to hear, but we wanted you to hear it straight from us. To be eligible for Social Security benefits, a person has to live throughout the entire month to receive his or her check. Therefore, when a person passes away, Social Security benefits are not payable for the month in which a beneficiary dies. This applies whether the person dies on the first or the last day of the month. You may be eligible for survivors benefits. For more information, please check out our publication, How Social Security Can Help You When A Family Member Dies. We hope this helps. 

  6. SHARON C.

    My ex and I was married 27 yrs, we have been divorced 5 years, he is 64 now I am 65 and 8 months, if he was to pass away next month, could I draw his full SS (survivors benefit) or would I draw what he would have drawn at his current age 64, his FRA is 66 and 4 month.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Sharon. Thanks for your questions. 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 or widower. The amount of your widow’s benefit is based on several factors, including: the earnings of your former husband, when he started receiving his benefits, your age, and the amount of your own retirement benefit. We compare your own benefit with your potential survivor benefit. If your survivor benefit would be higher than your own current retirement benefit, you would be eligible for survivor benefits. To learn more, please visit our If You Are The Survivor page. We hope this helps. 

  7. Denise

    I lost my husband of 43 years in February 2021. I worked for a school district that didn’t pay into SS for 26 years and then I moved to a job with a educational service center where I did pay into SS. While at the ESC and a few other years of working jobs that I paid SS, I have a total of 20 years that I have paid into SS. BUT, because of the GPO I can not receive any of my husband SS that he paid into since 1972. Hard earned money, years of working shift work but since he has passed and I worked for a school district I will not benefit at all from his SS. I don’t understand that we work hard to provide for our families and plan our retirement and in our case unfortunately those life devastating situations such as death so that the surviving spouse can live without having financial worries while dealing with the loss of their loved one. Who is benefiting from my husband of 43 years and his 47 years of paying into SS? I’m NOT!!! And that is wrong on so many levels. I know that it is a formula that is used for the GPO and in my case it was 100% offset so I got nothing but why should we be punished for planning and working hard to provide for our loved ones. I just need someone to explain to me how anyone can see that this is fair. Thank you for your time.

    • Sandra G.

      Hi my name is Sandy, I feel the same way as you. My husband passed away 2004 and I can’t get his SS it is so unfair. I get a pension but half of it goes to my rent. I am still working so that I can pay for other things I am 75 Years old. It is terrible 😢

    • Dudley

      This is our money not the darn government’s money folks. They spend it but we pay it and it should go out to the family of survivors. What kind (excuse me sort) of government steals from its citizens like this. Not the one I voted for I can tell you that. Come on SSA. Give these two ladies a decent answer.

      Reply

  8. Karen B.

    My husband passed away and we receive benefits. I draw off his. What do I need to do now? Will I continue to receive the benefits?
    Who do I need to notify?

    Thank you.

  9. Cheryl.W.

    I applied for survivor benefits under the Ely case ruling and was denied because of the length of marriage was less than 9mo, despite the fact that that was what the Ely ruling was for same sex couples. The reps I spoke to told me the denial was automatic and I would need to go through the appeal process. In fact, they did not even.knpw about it, despite it being posted on the SSA web site.
    Why has this not been corrected in their guidance or software?

  10. Brenda

    My dad recently passed away and his house is sold where will his statement go? I have forwarded his mail to go to my house. Will it actually be forwarded or sent back. I need a statement so I can file his taxes and give it to the estate attorney.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Brenda. We are sorry to hear about your loss. The SSA-1099 is mailed to the last address in our records and is intended for the spouse or executor of the deceased. If you did not receive the benefit statement, the executor will need to contact the local Social Security office. You may have to provide proof of death and proof of executorship. An SSA-1099 can also be given to someone receiving benefits on the deceased beneficiary’s record such as a spouse, parent, or child of the deceased. If you need more information, call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask a representative for assistance. We hope this helps.

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