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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Premlata V.
My cousin over age 70, never received his Medicare benefits as the staff in SS office does not try to understand consumers. He was told he hadn’t completed 40 quarters and he will have to pay Medicare premium of over $400-$700, even though he was married for over 40 yrs. He had diabetes and could not get treatment because he didn’t have funds to pay $400 plus amount every month. He went to foreign country for treatment and passed away. Social security and Medicare must be happy that they didn’t provide the benefits.
Barbara
Hello My spouse was diagnosed with a disability at age 62 years and has received his benefits each month until he was age 66 so this is now his social security. I retired from my job 1 year early at age 66 to take care of him a big decrease in our income i am receiving my own social security benifits but at a loss as i had to stop work to look after spouss. If my spouse does pass away how does his social security affect me given my expectations
Thank you
Ann C.
Hi, Barbara. We are sorry to hear about your situation. The amount of your potential widow’s benefit is based on several factors, including: the earnings of your husband, when he started receiving his benefits, your age at the time of his death, 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. For more information, please visit our Survivors Planner. 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.
Diane M.
Diane , Nov.11,2022 Retired at 63 collecting spousal benefits also Sers retirement which took 2/3 rds of benefits . What happens when my spouse dies and I get his benefits will they take 2/3 rds of that ? He is on disability .It seems complicated.
Ann C.
Hi, Diane. Thanks for visiiting our blog. It sounds like you are referring to the Government Pension Offset. A pension based on work that is not covered by Social Security (for example, Federal civil service and some State or local government agencies, such as police officers and some teachers) may cause the amount of your Social Security benefit to be reduced. For more information, please visit our How Your Government Pension May Affect Your Benefits page. 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.
Shirley C.
I am going to be 80 years old December 12. My husband of 59 years passed away February 27, 2021. Do I qualify to receive spouse’s benefits.
Ann C.
Hi, Shirley. We are sorry to hear about your loss. If you are already receiving retirement benefits, you can only apply for benefits as a widow or widower if the retirement benefit you receive is less than the benefits you would receive as a survivor. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. To determine if you are eligible for survivor benefits, 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.
Sharon
if someone have life insurance on there spouse and the spouse was receiving benefits, and the spouse pass away would that effect the surviving spouse benefits
Ann C.
Hi, Sharon. Thanks for your question. Life insurance does not affect potential survivors benefits. For more information, please visit our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.
Debra H.
I recently applied and got approval for survivor’s benefits. I am age 63 and I believe I am receiving a benefit based on my late husband’s record. How do I ensure that I am not applying for both my own and his, and just taking the higher the amount? Basically, that this is a restricted claim, restricted to my husband’s social security and not my own. I want to make sure that my own builds in the background where I could take my own at FRA or at age 70 because my own will be a higher amount than if I were to continue to collect on my late husbands. Now that I am going to receive my late husbands, I can no longer find my own retirement estimates on the website if I retire now, at FRA or at age 70. Because I am receiving my husband’s now, they are not showing what my own would be if I switch to my own. I have asked my SSA representative if this is a restricted claim and she says no, but then says it’s a confusion on the terminology and that my own is in fact building in the background and I could switch to my own later on when it is higher than my husbands. My affidavit came in the mail and it says I applied for survivor’s benefits but also says, I am applying for everything that I am eligible for. I am not applying for everything I am eligible for. I am just applying for my late husband’s benefits. So this is very confusing. I called and left a message but have not hard back. I was born after 1954 (age 63 right now).
Debra H.
I need to add that my husband died in 2007.
Ann C.
Hi, Debra. Thanks for visiting our blog. 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.
Jackie T.
I am a 83 year old widow collecting spousal benefits although I have collected on my own Social Security. My question is am I to pay taxes on the extra money in benefits I am getting from my husband? If so, how do I figure how much I owe in taxes?
Ann C.
Hi, Jackie. Thanks for visiting our blog. You must pay taxes on your benefits if you file a federal tax return as an “individual” and your “combined income” exceeds $25,000. For more information, visit our Benefits Planner. 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 information is helpful.
Rita E.
What # do I call to get an appt to talk to someone abt survivor benefits? No answer at any # I call. Thank u
Ann C.
Hi, Rita. We are sorry to hear about your experience. 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.
Celso
Hi.
I am 64 years old.
I’ve found I am eligible for retirement and deceased spouse SS benefits.
My surviving benefit amount is highier than my own Retirement amount at FRA.
Can I apply for early Retirement now and switch to survivor benefit to collect a higher amount later when I reach the FRA for survivor benefit?
Will I get 100% of survivor benefit at FRA or the same percentage at the time I apply for my own early retirement?
For example: if I get 82% now on early retirement I will get the same 82% of survivor benefit even if applying at FRA or they are not related?
Thank
Ann C.
Hi, Celso. Thanks for visiting our blog. If you are also eligible for retirement benefits, but haven’t applied yet, you have an option. You can apply for retirement or survivors benefits now and switch to the other (higher) benefit later. For more information, 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.
Gina Z.
I started collecting on my husband’s social security when I turned 66. I plan on retiring when I am 67. Can I then switch to my social security as it is much higher
Ann C.
Hi, Gina. Thanks for your question. Yes. If you receive benefits as a widow, widower, or surviving divorced spouse, you can switch to your own retirement benefit as early as age 62. This assumes you are eligible for retirement benefits and your retirement rate is higher than your rate as a widow, widower, or surviving divorced spouse. For more information, please visit our Survivors Planner. If you have specific questions, please 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.
Celso
Thanks for your answer.
Just one more thing: If I choose my own retirement benefit now at 64 and when I reach my FRA to apply for survivor benefit, will I be getting the full amount of the survivor benefit just estimated? This is my main concern .
Thanks again!
Sam L.
I am retired (now past my FRA) and and claimed my Social Security Benefits. My spouse has requested Spousal Benefits starting at age 62. If I was to die soon, what are her options? I believe SSA would “automatically” convert her to Survivor Benefits but that option (at her age) would significantly reduce what she receives (vs. my current monthly check). Is there an option to defer taking Survivor Benefits until she reaches her FRA? She is in good health and family genes which have many living into their 90s.
Sue M.
My ex died at 60 and I am 55 can I get monthly payments
Ann C.
Hi, Sue. Thanks for your question. If the marriage lasted for at least 10 years, you could be eligible for surviving divorced spouse benefits based on your ex-husband’s earnings, beginning at age 60. If you are disabled, you could qualify for benefits as early as age 50 if the disability started before or within 7 years of your ex-husband’s death. For additional information on Survivor benefits, check out our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.