What You Should Know About Social Security if Your Spouse Passes Away
Reading Time: 3 MinutesLast 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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Tags: Social Security benefits, survivors benefits
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Social Security Administration
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Adam P.
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Philomena A.
My husband I both retired at 62 receiving SS. He passed 10 yrs ago, had more SS than I. Would I not get the higher of my SS or his SS
Chrissie
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.
You can’t apply online. You have to contact Social Security to set up an appointment to receive survivor benefits.
1-800-772-1213
ZILDALVA S.
Iam in Portugal and I need to transfer my savings to Portugal Bank. Bank of America, ask me to go in Florida, in person to withdraw the saving, I really can not . I can send to BANK OF AMERICA, my account number in Portugal, ok.
Can you help me to do that please, thank you.
Wanda B.
Can you draw from your deceased Veterans SSI and Veterans disability?
Steven A.
Im pretty sure my ex-wife has paid a lot more than i paid into SS. Im 73 and was with her for 10 years! I had to pay a lot of money for her and child support. Am i able to apply for some of her SS?
Rex T.
For over two years I was hospitalized and believed to be without the Social Security benefits. I felt very distraught by the fact that my Wife was surviving without the pay I had been drawing for over 20 years. However, once out of the Hospital in June, I learned that not only had she been getting the Direct pay going into our Checking Account and transferring it into an Account of her own without my name on it, she had actually gotten it until the month before my discharge. She then told me, had I remained in the Facility until I expired, she would’ve remained married to me until the end. Because she was not evil enough to leave me with no one while bound there. But now that I had freedom, she wanted a divorce ASAP, so that it would enable her to continue enjoying the new Life she had been living while I was in that Facility out of her way. I left the Hospital being Homeless and she had sold/given away all that I had accomplished over an entire Lifetime, including Family Heirlooms of the 3 Generations before me. Approximately 35-40K of my S.S earnings had been spent, leaving me with near nothing, so she could enjoy the lifestyle of an almost 60yr old Karaoke Bar Queen, while slandering my name and character to everyone who was willing to listen. She is an extremely overpaid, Registered Nurse! Because tho she makes approximately $70K per year, she fails to hold the amazingly important Nursing Gift/Skill of being a humble Caregiver in anyway that the truly worthy Medical Personnel do. She couldn’t even Care for her Husband, by visiting me even once in over 2 years. Do you really think she gives a hoot for the Patients who she never even remembers their names? No! She cares about being one of the highest paid Nurses in AR, who as she says, ” is not only deserving of the best of Pay Earnings, but is entitled to her soon to be ex-Husbands Social Security Pay & Bennefits as well. I know she will have to answer for such on Judgment Day. But should she not have to answer to the S.S.A. before then? If not, will I owe the overpay that I never saw or spent?
Cecil B.
WOW! That really sucks. The only female
you can trust is your mother.
Anna P.
WOW, That is very heart breaking to read what happened to you. If she had forged your name to collect your own benefits, that is considered fraud. If your spouse forges your name to sign up for your own Social Security benefits without your knowledge, it is considered a serious crime. The spouse committing the forgery may face legal consequences such as fines, probation, or imprisonment. As the victim, you have the right to take legal action against the perpetrator. It is crucial to report the forgery to the police and file a police report, which can be used as documentation for credit reporting agencies and other institutions. Additionally, you should check your credit reports for any fraudulent activities and consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name
Anna P.
If your spouse forges your name to sign up for your own Social Security benefits without your knowledge, it is considered a serious crime. The spouse committing the forgery may face legal consequences such as fines, probation, or imprisonment. As the victim, you have the right to take legal action against the perpetrator. It is crucial to report the forgery to the police and file a police report, which can be used as documentation for credit reporting agencies and other institutions. Additionally, you should check your credit reports for any fraudulent activities and consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name
Anna P.
That is very sad that happened to you. If she signed your name without your knowledge to get your own benefits and not spousal benefits then that is considered fraud and she can go to prison.
Angela L.
My husband recently passed away and was receiving disability benefits. His backpay is disbursed in three checks, one sent out every 6mo. He got his first two and he’s last one was supposed to be given in August 2025. We were married for 8 years but during the last month of his life he was in hospital most of the time. Will I be able to receive his last payment for me and his child. I have already went to the SSA office and asked about this and someone was supposed to have called me and talked to me about it. I would call but no one ever answers.
C.M. A.
Madam/Sir
This inquiry is respectfully submitted specifically to on Spouse Benefits.
Basically, here’s the situation.
1. My (65 years old) wife of 30plus years is a Japanese citizen.
i. She has lived in the U.S. with me for more than 10 years before returning to Japan.
ii. During that period, she obtained her Social Security Card.
iii. Her name printed on the Card in the following order.
*Her First name
* Unmarried Last Name prior to marriage
* And my Last name/Abe.
iv. The three names on her Social Security Card does not match her Bank Account name which reads as First Name and Unmarried Last Name WITHOUT my Last name/Abe.
2. Given the above, the situation has become a major Issue (stumbling block) in the process of applying for Spouse Benefits.
3. To resolve the Issue so that she could start receiving monthly Benefits from April this year (the Objective), we very respectfully submit the following questions for your kind guidance.
3.1 Please have a new Social Security Card Issued (without change the Social Security Number) with only her First and Last Unmarried name (less Abe) printed to matching her current Bank Account? (FYI. Japanese Banks does NOT allow anyone to have more than 1-one account)
3.2 If it’s a YES on question 3.1, please advise what we need to do to accomplish the Objective.
Thank you in advance for your diligent support and understanding and we look forward to your early responses.
On behalf of my wife and very respectfully.
Abe. C.M.
Email. abem541f@gmail.com
Date this. June 25th 2025.
Marilee
My ex-husband passed away and was receiving SSB. Am I eligible for 100% of his benefits? I am 65 and had remarried 14 years ago. I am retired and receive a small amount of SSB.
Steve
My ex wife passed in Jan. We had been married for 18 years & divorced for 10. She was 62 & did not receive SSB i am 59 & had remarried but am divorced from my second wife. Can I collect on my first wife’s SSB?