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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Jean
My husband passed 23 years ago he would be 70 this year I am 65 could I have been getting his ss when he was to turn 65 and can I get back ss checks from his
A.C.
Hi, Jean. Thanks for visiting our blog. We’re sorry to hear about your loss. The amount of your widow’s benefit is based on several factors, including: the earnings of your 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 find more information about 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.
Crystal
Hi, My husband passed away 2 years ago he was 41 My children have been receiving survivor benefit but my son ages out in December my daughter is still under the age of 16 would I qualify for survivor benefit now that my son has aged out?
A.C.
Hi, Crystal. We are sorry to hear about your loss. You may be eligible to receive survivors benefits at any age, if you have not remarried and you take care of the deceased worker’s child who is under age 16 or has a disability and receives child’s benefits. Keep in mind there are limits on how much survivors may earn while they receive benefits. For more information, please visit our Survivors Planner. For additional 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.
Elizabeth A.
I began drawing widow’s benefits on my 60th birthday following my husband’s passing 3 years earlier.
I have since begun drawing SSD after being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Am I permitted to receive both benefits?
Thank you,
Elizabeth
A.C.
Thanks for visiting our blog. Generally, you cannot receive both but can receive the higher of the two. For additional 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.
David F.
I am a widower, my wife passed away a couple of years back.
I am drawing my social security at a reduced rate becouse I also retired from a Federal job.
Her payment was larger than my reduced one. Can I apply and get her payment and give up mine?
A.C.
Hi, David. We are sorry to hear about your loss. You can switch to survivors benefits if they are higher. Keep in mind your survivors benefits may be affected by the Government Pension Offset. If you have additional 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.
Rada O.
Good morning,
I am currently 62.5 yrs old. My late husband passed away 17 yrs ago. We were 4.5 yrs in marriage before him passing away. I fulfill max amount of credits based on my account profile.
Are there any limitations connected to duration of marriage in the survivor’s benefits application as long as we were married at the moment of my husband’s death?
Thank you.
R.
A.C.
Hi, Rada. We are sorry to hear about your loss. According to current policy, a spouse must meet a 1 year duration-of-marriage requirement. Generally, a surviving spouse or widow meets this requirement, if the marriage took place no later than 9 months immediately preceding the day on which the worker died. For more information about survivors benefits, please visit our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.
Thomas m.
Trying to find out about Widow benefits
A.C.
Hi, Thomas. Thanks for visiting our blog. 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. We hope this helps.
Dave C.
My friend, aged 62, was recently widowed. Her deceased husband was also 62. She would like to apply for survivors benefits based on her husband’s work record. Is she subject to an earnings test and what would the reduction be?
thank you
A.C.
Hi, Dave. We are sorry to hear about you and your friend’s loss. There are limits on how much survivors may earn while they receive benefits. For more information, please visit our Receiving Benefits While Working page. To find additional information about survivors benefits, please visit our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.
Amy M.
My husband was diagnosed with early onset severe Alzheimer’s in March of 2017 we started receiving ssdi October 2017 at the age of 57. He passed 9/17/22 at 62 3/4. I never converted the ssdi to ss What am I entitled to ?
A.C.
Hi, Amy. 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 about survivors benefits, please visit our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.
Diana F.
My friend’s ex-husband (died 2 weeks ago) they were married 17 years. She lives in Mexico City. He was a USA citizen and lived in Florida. Is she entitled to widows benefits? Does she have to apply in person? And if so what are the requirements
A.C.
Hi, Diana. Thanks for visiting our blog. Since your friend is living outside of the U.S., she can contact her local Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps.
Montez S.
I am a widow and am receiving survivor benefits. I am now 68. Am I able to also receive my own social security benefits since I had worked? His of course is higher than what I mad but am I able to receive both?
A.C.
Hi, Montez. Thanks for visiting our blog. You cannot receive both but you can switch to retirement benefits if it is higher than your survivor benefits. For additional 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.
Anh T.
Dear Madam:
I have received spousal benefits. May I switch to survivor’s benefit after spouse’s passing away. Thank you so much.
A.C.
Hi, Anh. Thanks for visiting our blog. If you already receive benefits as a spouse, your benefit will automatically convert to survivors benefits after we receive the report of death. For more information about survivors benefits, please visit our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.