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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Marshall A.
My wife passed away 2 months before our 51st wedding anniversary. Her SSI was stopped. Am I able to receive it so I can take care of bills and things. If so how do I de it. I need help please. please email me at marshallalston@hotmail.com
Thank you
A.C.
Hi, Marshall. Thanks for your question. We’re sorry to hear of your wife’s passing. If she worked long enough to be insured under Social Security, you may be eligible for a Lump Sum Death Payment. To file for the benefit, call 1-800-772-1213 and request an appointment at your local office. You must file the application for the lump-sum death payment within two years of your wife’s death. To learn more about the benefit as well as potentialsurvivor benefits and who can receive it, visit here.
Kelly
My oldest daughter and my son both lost their father‘s due to car accident it’s my problem is neither one of them signed the birth certificates and my son is now 10 and my daughter is now about to be 12 her dad died when she was seven his dad died two weeks before he was born how can I go about getting survivors benefits for them to I know I had to get a paternity test from the grandmothers I got one with my son‘s grandmother a home test and then The results came back 99.9 that she was the grandmother yeah his aunt then proceeded to tell me that she would not allow her mother to get a 30 test until I moved out of my mothers house because they were having issues this is good now 10 years they still won’t help me get survivors benefits May be because he had two other children can someone please tell me what to do
A.C.
Hi, Kelly. 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 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.
CHRISTINE
Hi there, How long do you need to be married to secure widows social security benefits? We have been together for 16 years but are not currently married. We are talking about getting married and the future etc.
A.C.
Hi, Christine. Generally, individuals must be married for one year before they can get spouse’s benefits. An applicant for surviving spouse benefits must meet a 9 months duration-of-marriage requirement. We hope this helps.
Priscilla A.
My husband passed away in 2013. I am certified a disable widow. USCIS made a mistake on my greencard and it took 1 n 1/2 years to get a replacement. Now that everything is back on track. I am not getting my survivors benefits. Everytime I visit social security, they say you will get by thanksgiving or a week later. But months moved to years and still nothing. WHY? How do people like me survive.
A.C.
Hi, Priscilla. We are sorry to hear about your loss and experience. If you still need assistance, please continue to work with our offices with specific questions. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. You can 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. You can ask to speak to a supervisor on your next call or visit. We hope this is resolved soon if not already.
Debbie
My husband and I are the same age and both worked but he is the higher earner. If I collect on my own work record at age 62 and he waits until Full Retirement Age to collect his, will the survivor benefit I am entitled to be reduced even if I wait to collect survivor benefits when I reach FRA? I am concerned that because I started collecting on my own record at an early age it will permanently reduce the survivor benefit . Thank you
A.C.
Hi, Debbie. Thanks for your question. If you are the widow or widower of a person who worked long enough under Social Security, you can receive full benefits at full retirement age for survivors or reduced benefits as early as age 60. 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 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, visit our Survivors Planner:If You Are the Survivor. We hope this helps.
Wayne A.
It would be nice to get through to someone to discuss the survivors benefits status.
I’ve tried to contact you by phone with no results.
A.C.
Hi, Wayne. If you still need assistance, you can click “Get Help” in your personal my Social Security account to “Ask a Question” or click “Talk to an Expert” for a call back. We hope this helps.
Lisa B.
A friend has court-appointed guardianship of her grandson. Friend’s disability will switch over to social security benefits in December 2019.
In the event of friend’s death, will her grandson be eligible for survivor benefits — OR, does he need to be adopted by his grandparent.
Both of the grandson’s parents are living, but have made little to no effort to help support the child.
L.A.
Hi Lisa. Please note that for your friend’s security, we do not have access to your friend’s personal information in this forum. To report a person who may need a representative payee to manage the her/his Social Security benefits, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. or contact your local Social Security office. To learn more about the responsibilities of a representative payee, you can read our publication titled “A Guide for Representative Payees.” We hope this information helps.
Marcia
I receive the survivors benefit. Does the 1.6% increase in 2020 also apply to survivors benefit?! The letter I received did not indicate the increase. Thanks.
L.A.
Hi Marcia. Yes, the 1.6% cost of living adjustment (COLA) applies to all Social Security benefits, including survivors benefits. We hope this helps.
Bill&Pam
My aunt and uncle paid very little into SS in their lifetime. Unfortunately he was killed at a very young age and left my aunt to raise 6 kids. She collected SS for the kids until they were all 18 and then it all stopped. This is the story that I was told. She said she was not entitled to any more SS. He had Paid in and was also a veteran.
Was she misinformed? Please help!!
steve j.
how long do the people have to be married before the surviving spouse can draw the deceased benefits?