Survivor Benefits: Four Tips Widows Need to Know
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 1, 2022
Months before the first Social Security check was issued in 1940, lawmakers made changes to the planned benefits. Instead of the retired worker’s benefit ending when he died, his widow could collect a survivor benefit for her lifetime. Since then, the eligibility rules for survivors have improved. The age requirements are lower, surviving ex-spouses are eligible, including surviving spouses and partners of same-sex relationships.
One thing that hasn’t changed is that the surviving spouse is often unsure how to start claiming their survivor’s benefits. We have some information to assist you in applying for benefits as a surviving spouse.
If you are a widow (or your ex-spouse died), you may be eligible to receive benefits on your late spouse’s, or ex-spouse’s, Social Security record. How much you receive will depend on your age, the amount of benefits you may receive on your own record, and whether you have dependent children.
You may be entitled to receive a survivor’s benefit under the following circumstances:
- At age 50 if you have a disability.
- At age 60 (the benefit amount will be reduced).
- At any age if you have a child under your care who is under age 16 or who became disabled before age 22.
- If you were widowed and remarried after age 60.
If you’re entitled to retirement benefits – but haven’t applied yet – you have an option. You can decide to apply for either the retirement or survivors benefits first. You can switch to the other (higher) benefit later.
To help make this decision, it’s important to know your Full Retirement Age (FRA). Your FRA is when you can start receiving your full retirement benefit amount. For instance, if you were born between January 2, 1943 through January 1, 1955, your FRA is 66. If you start receiving benefits before your FRA, your benefits will be reduced, generally for as long as you continue to receive benefits.
There are many variables involved. Contact Social Security to discuss which benefit to take first – before applying for either benefit. You want to be sure you’re choosing the option that best fits your financial circumstances.
All the information you need is on the Social Security website. You must apply for survivors benefits over the phone or make an appointment to apply in person. You will also need to provide certain original documents.
Local Social Security offices are helping people in person with or without an appointment. This means staff will take applications in person and they will be available to help and answer any question you may have. I encourage you to call and schedule an appointment in advance to save time and so you have all the documents we need to help you in one visit. Please share this information with your friends and family – and post it on social media.
Our posting of this blog does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any non-Social Security organization, author, or webpages.
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Caren
Hello,
My husband was approved for disability benefits but passed away before receiving his first disability check. Will I still receive his disability benefits at age 60?
A.C.
Hi, Caren. We are sorry to hear about 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. To find more information on survivors benefits, please visit our Survivors Planner. For specific questions, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Lorraine M.
Hi I was wondering if I collect my deceased husbands S.S. at 60 can I change over to mine when I turn 62?
A.C.
Hi, Lorraine. Thanks for your question. You are eligible to apply for survivor benefits when you reach age 60 (age 50 or over if disabled). If you are also eligible for retirement benefits, but haven’t applied yet, you have the option to apply for retirement or survivors benefits now and switch to the other (higher) benefit later. However, there are other factors that may affect your entitlement to these benefits. For more information, please visit our If You Are The Survivor page. We hope this helps.
Elaine
Hello – I left a comment an hour ago, but couldn’t find it now. I am a widow, and would like to apply for survivors benefit which cannot be done online. A month ago, a SS rep told me she asked for someone to contact me from the Torrance office. I have not heard back. I have tried calling the 800 line but not getting anywhere the hold time is too long. Can you set me up for an appointment on 8/29 or 8/30 next week at your Torrance office?
Amanda R.
I am a widow who is currently receiving survivor benefits for myself and our 2 minor children. The oldest child was born legally blind and is receiving a partial disability benefit in addition to the benefit from her dad’s death. In about a year, she will be 18 and our youngest child will be 16. At that time I will only be 49 and won’t qualify for retirement payments. How will these changes affect what each of us receives in benefits? Can I earn money prior to my disabled child turning 18 without her losing her Medicaid benefit?
A.C.
Hi, Amanda. Thanks for visiting our blog. Unfortunately, your questions are a bit more complex than we can answer in this forum. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Mad
mad
It would be nice if the web site was easier for seniors that are not good with pcs to find things but it would be nicer if you could speak to a human The last time I called I was on hold for 45 minutes, spoke to a person , answered more questions and put on hold again for 15 minutes and than hang up on I am now on hold again and hope it does not happen this time. I have a claim number I want to check on as it has been almost four months since starting this.
Mad
8/24/2022 I was just hung up on again after being on hold than speaking with someone on hold again and next thing I know I get a busy signal AGAIN Love customer service
A.C.
Hi. We are sorry to hear about your experience. We encourage you to continue to work with your local Social Security office. Keep in mind most local offices have resumed in-person service for people without an appointment. Customers who walk in without appointments may encounter delays. Visit How to Get Help from Social Security to learn more, including what to know if you need to visit an office. You can also submit feedback by visiting our Contact Social Security page. Once there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email A Question to our Support Team” form where you can complete and submit a compliment, complaint, or suggestion. We hope this helps.
Karen C.
My husband retired at full retirement age a couple of years ago at 66. I am still working and plan to retire next year at 64. He gets $2,860.00 a month. I will draw $1171.00. Can I draw half of what he gets instead?
A.C.
Hi, Karen. Thanks for your question. To qualify for spouse’s benefits, your spouse must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Keep in mind that if you qualify for your own benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. Also, if you begin receiving benefits between age 62 and your full retirement age, the amount is permanently reduced by a percentage based on the number of months up to your full retirement age. For more information, please visit our Benefits Planner page. We hope this helps.
Pam W.
Hello There, I am 57 and receive nothing. I lost my husband jan25 2020 to cancer.I was always a stay at home wife. I have an auto immune disease , suffer from debilitating pain. Its very hard to stand and almost impossible to walk and impossible to do steps. I need to know my eligibilities. Its hard for me to even buy groceries.
Respectively, Pam Weeks
A.C.
Hi, Pam. We are sorry to hear about your loss and your condition. 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. To find more information about survivors benefits and how to apply, please visit our If You Are The Survivor page. You also 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.
Judith M.
I am 58, my husband passed and i am eligible for benefits at age 60. I can retire from the State and County at that time. Will my widow benefits amount be affected by my retirement? I understand you cannot make more than 19,560 if you work, but does State and County retirement count as income?
A.C.
Hi, Judith. We are sorry to hear about your loss. 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 don’t count pensions, annuities, investment income, interest, veterans benefits, or other government or military retirement benefits. For more information, visit our Receiving Benefits While Working page. However, keep in mind, generally, a pension based on work that is not covered by Social Security (for example, Federal civil service and some State or local government agencies) may cause the amount of your Social Security benefit to be reduced. Your Social Security benefits can be reduced based on one of two provisions: the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset. We hope this helps.
Gina P.
If my late husband’s ex collects on his Social Security, will I be entitled to receive the full benefit amount once she dies?
A.C.
Hi, Gina. Thanks for visiting our blog. If your husband’s ex-wife receives benefits, it has no effect on the amount of benefits you receive. If she passes away, your benefit will remain the same. Thanks, again.
Mary
What are the criteria for remarrying and collecting survivor’s social security benefits? I’m aware it is after the 60th birthday, but do you also need to have collected the first benefit pay? I am 60 in Nov., and made over 19,560 for the year.
A.C.
Hi, Mary. Thanks for visiting our blog. If you remarry after you reach age 60 (age 50 if you have a disability), your remarriage will not affect your eligibility for survivors benefits. For more information, please visit our Survivors Planner. For specific questions, you can contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.