Understanding Social Security Survivors Benefits
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: September 19, 2019
Unfortunately, tragedy can strike without any warning. The loss of the family wage earner can be devastating both emotionally and financially. Social Security helps by providing income for the families of workers who die.
Some of the Social Security taxes you pay go toward survivors benefits for workers and their families. The value of the survivors benefits you have under Social Security may even be more than the value of your individual life insurance. When you die, certain members of your family may be eligible for survivors benefits. These include widows and widowers (and divorced widows and widowers), children, and dependent parents.
Here are the people who can get survivors benefits based on your work:
- Your widow or widower may be able to get full benefits at full retirement age. The full retirement age for survivors is age 66 for people born in 1945-1956, with the full retirement age gradually increasing to age 67 for people born in 1962 or later. Your widow or widower can get reduced benefits as early as age 60. If your surviving spouse is disabled, benefits can begin as early as age 50.
- Your widow or widower can get benefits at any age if they take care of your child younger than age 16 or disabled, who is receiving Social Security benefits.
- Your unmarried children, younger than age 18 (or up to age 19 if they’re attending elementary or secondary school full time), can also get benefits. Your children can get benefits at any age if they were disabled before age 22. Under certain circumstances, we can also pay benefits to your stepchildren, grandchildren, step-grandchildren, or adopted children.
- Your dependent parents can get benefits if they’re age 62 or older. (For your parents to qualify as dependents, you must have provided at least half of their support.)
You can read more our publication Survivors Benefits for more information.
How much your family can get from Social Security depends on your average lifetime earnings. The more you earned, the more their benefits will be. For more information on widows, widowers, and other survivors, visit our webpage.
Social Security is with you through life’s journey. Be sure to tell friends and family about our Survivors Benefits and how we can help in times of need.
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About the Author
Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Rhonda B.
Both my husband and I are on social security, If I die, can he switch and draw mine because it is more?
Ann C.
Hi, Rhonda. The amount of your husband’s benefit as a widower benefit would be based on several factors, including: your earnings, when you started receiving your benefits, his age, and the amount of his own retirement benefit. We compare his own benefit with his potential survivor benefit. If his survivor benefit would be higher than his own current retirement benefit, he would be eligible for survivor benefits. For more information, visit our Benefits Planner: Planning for Your Survivors. We hope this helps.
essam e.
thank you for this outstanding subject
Lonna D.
Please Tell Me”WHY”SOCIAL SECURITY Pays The RAILROAD” MY SOCIAL SECURITY??(And,You Send”ME”Lonna Davi),THE”W-2FORM “(WHEN YOUR NOT SENDING ME “MY OWN MONEY THAT I EARNED?) I COULD REALLY USE MY OWN MONEY TOO!!! MY HUSBAND WHO PASSED AWAY IN”1996 WORKED FOR THE RAILROAD FOR”47YEARRS” AND MUST BE ROLLING OVER IN HIS
GRAVE SEEING HOW S.S.(MINE)IS STEALING MY HARD EARNED MONEY AND HANDING IT OVER TO THE RAILROAD, INSTEAD OF GIVING IT TO ME???? I”SHOULDN’T HAVE TO BE ON GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
(SECTION 8!!),FOOD SHELF,ETC:”?????
SOMEBODY”EXPLAIN”WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? THE RAILROAD HAS THEIR OWN(SOCIAL SECURITY)
MY HUSBAND HAD EXPLAINED EVERYTHING TO ME BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY!! ALL ABOUT
“TIER 1” PAY… “TIER 2″ SOCIAL SECURITY!!! SO,”R.R.RETIREMENT”
DOES”NOT” NEED MY”MONEY!!” AND,EXPLAIN”WHY YOU SEND ME THE”W-2 FORM???” AND I’M NOT EVEN GETTING THE MONEY????
YOU SHOULD BE SENDING THAT
“W-2″ FORM TO THE DAXX”RAILROAD!”…..”ALL THE GOVERNMENT GREEDY SCAMS!!”
PEOPLE FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE WHAT YOU AND THE RAILROAD ARE DOING TO ME!! THEN,THEY SEE IT AND SAY THE SAME THING I BELIEVE “” I SHOULD BE GETTING MY OWN SOCIAL SECURITY ALONG WITH MY HUSBAND’S(MINE ISN’T A LOT,BUT WOULD HELP ME LIVE A SOMEWHAT NORMAL LIFE) AND RAILROAD SHOULD PAY”ME” BACK”ALL” THE MONEY”YOU” PAID THEM!!!! “RECTROACTIVE” AS,IT’S BASICALLY”STEALING FROM THE POOR TO GIVE TO THE”GREEDY RICH”…..IT’S SO DESPECABLE,DECEIVING AND A VERY ROTTEN THING TO DO TO SOMEONE LIKE ME,AND SO MANY OTHERS???? SO,MR.MIKE KORBEY,
COULD YOU PLEASE POSSIBLY EXPLAIN”WHY” ALL YOU”RICH” STEAL FROM THE”POOR?” AND”ALLOW” THIS KIND OF GREED”
TO GO ON??? PUT MONEY BACK ITO IT’S”RIGHTFUL OWNERS!!” ALSO,GIVE THE”W-2″ FORMS TO THE THE”RAILROAD “ONE THAT IS STEALING THE MONEY!!! I WOULD TRULY APPRECIATE “VERY TRUTHFUL ANSWERS” I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SPEAK TO YOU FACE TO FACE,EVEN AT A”PUBLIC FORUM?” I AM GIVING YOU MY E-MAIL AND TELEPHONE NUMBER
bsfeb32@gmail.com
#(802)288-0332. Thank-you,
Lonna Davis
Norma I.
Am a widow collecting survival benifits we wore married for 30 yrs am 69 should i remarry do i have to give up my benefit
Ann C.
Hi, Norma. If you receive retirement or Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits, your marriage will not affect your benefit. If you are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), widow or widower’s benefits, your marriage may affect your benefit. To learn more about how marriage affects benefits, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Arlene M.
I never hit post comment on the previous email I thought I sent, question was: Does a divorced widowers benefits raise if the widow passes?
Ann C.
Hi, Arlene. Benefits paid to you as a surviving divorced spouse won’t affect the benefit amount for other survivors getting benefits on the worker’s record. Other survivors’ benefits on the worker’s record also do not affect yours. If you have specific questions about your benefits, you call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Esmeralda G.
I was married for about 25 years my Husband stayed in Orgon Meadford.he passed about 6 to 7 years ago no one informed me his children didn’t contact me when i went to apply for SSI i told them about my husband being deceased said it would be better that I didn’t get sevivors benefits because i wouldn’t get as much is that true he work all his years so what happens to that money.Esmeralda.
Luis A.
Hi Esmeralda. For your security, we do not have access to your personal information in the forum. Generally speaking, a divorced, disabled widow may be eligible for benefits if the person is between ages 50 and 60, the person meets the definition of disability for adults, and the disability started before the ex-spouse’s death or within seven years after the ex-spouse’s death. Also, if you qualify for Social Security benefits on your own record, we pay that amount first. But if you also qualify for a higher amount as a divorced spouse on your ex-husband’s record, you’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. For more information, visit our internet page titled Benefits Planner: If You Are The Survivor. For specific questions about your case, please call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and ask to speak with a representative. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the day. You may also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Cindy N.
I’m a widow my husband was murdered May 09 2017, I’m interested in applying for spousal benefits. His social security number is *** – ** – *** Mine is *** – ** – ***
Luis A.
Hi Cindy. We are sorry to hear about your loss. Unfortunately, but for your security, we do not have access to personal information on this forum. In your situation, it is best to contact your local Social Security office. Or, you can call our toll free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask to speak with one of our representatives, who are available Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. You may also find information about survivors benefits here. We also have a publication titled “How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies.” We hope this helps.
Arlene E.
I never see anything mentioned about SS payments cut when one gets a teacher pension, as mine are. I am wondering if my husband pre-deceases me, will my portion of his benefits also be cut due to my IL teacher pension? Most of my SS was earned outside of IL.
Ann C.
Hi, Arlene. Thanks for your question. 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.
Bill G.
Im a widower and my wife was getting ssi disability for quite sometime. She passed away in 2014.Am i entitled to her social security.
Ann C.
Hi, Bill. 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. You can find more information on survivors benefits here. We hope this helps.
Andrew H.
These benefits were a lifesaver for my family when I was young. Last month unfortunately we lost our daughter in law. She was only 35 years old and left an 8 year old son who will be eligible for survivor benefits until he is 18 years old. Thank heaven for this great program