Social Security Benefits, Survivors

What You Should Know About Social Security if Your Spouse Passes Away

May 29, 2025 • By

Reading Time: 3 Minutes

Last Updated: May 29, 2025

The death of a spouse is among the most stressful life events. Losing a spouse can be devastating both emotionally and financially. You can depend on us during this difficult time.

Can I get surviving spouse benefits?

When your spouse passes away, you may be able to get benefits as a surviving spouse – even if you’re divorced. Eligibility depends on several factors:

  1. Age – You may be eligible for survivor benefits:
  • If you are age 60 or older.
  • As early as age 50, if you have a disability and are unable to work.
  • At any age if you’re caring for your deceased spouse’s child who is younger than 16 or who developed a disability before age 22. Note: Children (including stepchildren, grandchildren, step-grandchildren, and adopted children) may be eligible for survivor benefits, too.
  1. Employment – You may be able to work and get survivor benefits. It depends on your age and how much you’re earning. If you’re younger than full retirement age, you’re subject to an earnings limit. To learn more about working and getting benefits, read this blog article.
  2. Benefit status – If you already receive retirement or disability benefits on your own work record, you may be due survivor benefits if they’re greater than your own. You won’t receive both – you’ll get the higher amount.

How much will I get as a surviving spouse? 

Social Security benefits are based on a worker’s lifetime earnings. As a surviving spouse, you may receive between 71.5% and 100% of your deceased spouse’s benefit. The longer you wait to apply – up until your full retirement age – the higher your monthly benefit amount will be.

When should I apply for survivor benefits?

When your spouse dies, we recommend you call us right away at 1-800-772-1213 about our $255 lump sum death payment. You’ll also want to discuss monthly benefits for you and your family.

You have options. You may be able to get benefits as a surviving spouse while delaying your own retirement benefit, if it’s higher. Or, you may want to receive a reduced retirement benefit, then wait until later to apply for a higher survivor benefit.

Please contact us to speak with a representative so you can decide what’s best for you.

How do I apply for survivor benefits?

You must make an appointment by calling us at 1-800-772-1213.

If you already receive spouse benefits, you will automatically be converted to surviving spouse benefits. No application is needed. However, you should contact us to apply for the one-time only $255 lump sum.

You cannot apply for survivor benefits online.

What if I’m divorced?

You may be able to get benefits as a surviving divorced spouse if you were married at least 10 years, even if your spouse had remarried. You must be at least age 60, or 50 if you’re disabled, and you must be single – unless your remarriage occurred after age 60.  Note: We may be able to pay divorced spouse benefits while your former spouse is living.   

For more information, check out our Survivors Benefits publication and our Survivor benefits page. Please call us if you have questions or to schedule an appointment for yourself or a child.

Please share this important information with your loved ones and other surviving spouses – and post on social media.

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Comments

  1. Charles m.

    what happened with my appeal

  2. mark l.

    my wife was on social security disability benefits when she turned 65. she is 75 now. my ss benefit is considerable more than hers. can she apply for spousal benefits now?

    • Annie O.

      She can apply for spousal as soon as you apply for your SSA benefits. Generally, spousal is 1/2 of whatever your benefits would be a full retirement–reduced if you retire early and no extra if you work over full retirement age. If she gets a different SSA benefit already and qualifies for spousal benefits too, she’d get whichever is higher. If you’ve retired; she really needs to apply asap to find out.

  3. Jerry B.

    What if the surviving spouse is a foreigner over age 60?

    • Angela H.

      He has ex wife, mother of his children, they were together 29years before divorce

  4. MICHELE

    5.29.25

    A grandfather was taking care of his 2 underaged grandkids for years. Their mom passed away in June 2024 and their grandfather (my brother) passed in Sept. 2024.
    The children are 13 and 16.

    I was wondering if his grandkids are able to get surivor benefits?

    Thanks,
    MG

  5. Cheryl D.

    I applied for and approved for spousal survivor benefits. I waited until approx 4 months after his death for no real reason; it was just emotionally painful. Even tho we divorced decades ago, we remained good friends (with only normal marital arguments!!) We had 2 children both now in their early 50’s which was the main reason for our continued and life long friendship.
    I only caution you with one very important tip if you plan to apply. Make SURE you have certified documents of EVERY THING SS will need/demand! Birth certificates, marriage certificates , divorce decree and death certificate. If you don’t have them or don’t know where the hell they are, move your butt NOW as applying to the correct county who has these records can take an unbelievable amount of time. TRUST ME ON THAT!! SS will 100% deny your claim if you can’t provide these documents in the allotted time frame. I can’t obviously KNOW how much time they’ll give YOU but I had 30 days. I didn’t get my divorce papers until the 31st day!!! And so my claim was denied. A few days later when I was able to comply, my case was re-opened and approved. WHEW!!! So number ONE rule for you to remember….GET THOSE DOCUMENTS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE CERTIFIED.
    If you hire a private “record search provider” which I did for the amount of $99…. DON’T!! They’re a waste of money. Contact the appropriate county records office directly. If you have to do this via phone, be prepared to BE ON HOLD FOR HOURS AND HOURS DAY AFTER DAY!!! It’s painful but this too will end!! GOOD LUCK I wish I could answer any of your questions but I can’t here. Online searches will come in very handy and regardless of hearing that it’s a NIGHTMARE to contact social security, NO it isn’t. They’re overworked and understaffed (I think) but they’re all really nice and personable…and HELPFUL. Questions??: social security has a great web site that can answer any question you can think of to ask!

    • Kathryn S.

      Thank you! This is very helpful information.

    • Lynda S.

      Thank you for all this information

    • Patricia V.

      I’m very sorry that no SSA rep. ever answers this blog site, but this public area is for reading purposes only.

      Trash their ##mn## phone system since it is soooo broken with their severe staff shortages! I once tried to call and received a Callback message two hours later when I was out by that time, unrelated to my original question!

      Do you have a personal SSA account set up? Use that to write your questions and good luck. You can copy-paste your long message to save yourself keypunches, too!

  6. Jay

    What about taxes? If my spouse dies, will I have to pay income tax as a single person? If so that could double the tax that I would be paying and make it very difficult to survive.

    • Lynn V.

      Yes you will. If you inherit a big traditional IRA you get to treat it as your own, but the RMDs are large and often push you into IRMAA territory for a single person. Since survivors tend to be women, it’s nicknamed the widow’s tax penalty but it applies to either survivor. Two benefits is often enough, but one not so much.

  7. Guillerma ".

    My husband passed away on August 4, 2022. I was informed that a check was issued to him, but the bank immediately returned the check back to Social Security office upon learning that he passed. Just wondering if this is correct.

  8. Nancy F.

    Why do I get a text asking me to report my monthly wages? I am fully retired with no job.

    • Patricia V.

      That text may mean a scam. Never answer surprise SS message but delete it.

      It’s better to go to your own secured SSA account to message your questions there. The telephone system is useless because help is severely understatement.

      And this blog gets no answers, either. It’s only for readers’ reference.

  9. Marlene E.

    My dtr has severe bi polar and other severe MH disability. Her husband abandoned her over 10 years ago. He collect ssi. Why can’t I have her on my survivors benefits because tgey have denied her twice. She solely relues on me and my husband. We cannot afford her to file for divorce. Her Dad died over seven years ago. Can she receive survivor benefits from that? We have a lawyer who can help us with all of tge denial informality. She’s severely affected by her MH Diagnosis. I just would like to know if there are advocates in this administration who can navigate effectively instead of denying her all the time. If the admin is sending check to dead people that concerns me for the people who are alive and need the income. Where is the justice?

  10. Patricia G.

    I would like to know when drawing widows pension I am not allowed to make as much money by working. Every year I am penalized for over payment. This money belongs to my late husband and me.????

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