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
Comments
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Diane F.
I am receiving spousal survivor benefits since 2002, when my husband died, because we have a disabled adult child. I was hurt at work(working a 1/2 position), I started receiving NEW York workers compensation. I never applied for disability because my Family health benefits from my state job would have stopped for myself(after eligible for Medicare), my DAC and my college aged daughter under 26. Should my SS benefit have been subject to an offset? I was never told and my lawyer knew about my survivor benefits and I even spoke to a SS representative.
V.V.
Hi Diane, thank you for your question. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how worker’s compensation can affect Social Security disability benefits. If you’re receiving a survivor benefit only, worker’s compensation will not affect the benefits. We hope this helps.
Mary
Are people that recieving survivor benefits egilble for a stimulus check
Danielle
My daughter was receiving survivor benefits from her father passing. It ended last month when she turned 18. Is she eligible for the stimulus check?
Cindy A.
My sons dad passed away in 2012 and he gets a survivor check and my son has some disability that really comes in between him facing life so therefore he cant deal with getting out into the world at all I mean it’s bad he stays at home in his room alot and remember he is 17 now can he draw off his dads survivor check now if he gets approve for disability I sure pray so
Cynthia
Sorry for your loss, l would recommend you taking your son to see a therapist! One of my neighbors kids went through the same thing as your child..She went through therapy with a positive outlook and is now doing much better and working and taking her meds. Please try and encourage your son to work…disability is not for abled bodies.
Hoping everything works out for you and your family..
georgia l.
the social security lied to us about cutting serviviors benifits being cut because i just got my check for april and it was only $96.92 and it’s suppose to be $780
V.V.
Hi Georgia. 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 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information.
megank
WHY would a widow be denied her spouse’s death benefit with no explanation?
A.C.
Hi, Megank. We are sorry to hear about your loss. 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 for assistance. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. You can also contact your local Social Security office. Be sure to look for the general inquiry telephone number under Show Additional Office Information. We hope this helps.
megank
I called the number – was only told that ‘she had a pension’ but couldn’t get any explanation as how that makes her ineligible for the death benefit.
A.C.
Hi. It sounds like she may be eligible for a Government Pension. 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 a Social Security benefit to be reduced. For more information about the Government Pension Offset, visit here. We hope this information is helpful.
MeganK
“If you take your government pension annuity in a lump sum, Social Security will calculate the reduction as if you chose to get monthly benefit payments from your government work.” How can I calculate this? Is there a formula? I cannot find one on the SSA.gov site. Thank you.
natalia q.
si soy viuda pero estoy en colombia y no tengo visa como puedo o por que medio puedo consultar la pension del social security?
Bobbie J.
My survivor benefits through social security have been eliminated. No explanation.
ANGELA T.
We had no other help we lived off of his disability check and scrapes just to get by we had no In-Home Care know any kind of outside help whatsoever I did it all for 10 years he had his first stroke on August 3rd 2010 he died on September 1st 2017 so I haven’t worked that long and that many years and now I don’t qualify because I’m not 60 that’s not right
ANGELA T.
Me and my husband were married for 12 years we were together for 18 I quit work when he had his first stroke I stayed home and took care of him myself which left us with only one income his disability check now they say because I’m not 60 years old I don’t qualify for any help how can you measure the help on age