Many people know about Social Security spousal benefits, and many receive benefits based on their spouse’s work history. Some couples rely on both of these monthly payments to meet their financial obligations.
So, what happens when the primary beneficiary dies? The surviving spouse might qualify for survivor benefits, which can be as much as 100% of the amount the deceased spouse received.
Children, grandchildren, or parents can sometimes qualify for survivor benefits. Keep reading as we tell you how Social Security survivor benefits work for spouses, including who is eligible, how to apply, and how much you can expect to receive.
What Are Social Security Survivor Benefits?
Social Security survivor benefits are paid to a surviving dependent of a Social Security benefit recipient. A surviving dependent may be a spouse, child, grandchild, parent, or ex-spouse.
If the deceased was receiving regular retirement benefits or disability benefits, then these survivor benefits may be available to eligible family members. Most commonly, these benefits apply to a widow or widower of a deceased spouse receiving Social Security retirement benefits. A surviving divorced spouse might also be eligible for benefits in some cases.
Spousal Survivor Benefits
The federal government realized that many couples and families depended on Social Security benefits to survive. Similarly, many couples relied on the work record of one spouse for their benefits. Perhaps the other spouse did not work or did not work long enough to pay the appropriate Social Security taxes to qualify for their benefits. The surviving spouse might be left in severe financial hardship when the primary beneficiary dies. Using survivor benefits to allow the surviving spouse to receive up to 100% of the deceased spouse’s benefits helps to alleviate that problem.
Child Survivor Benefits
When it comes to children or grandchildren, there could be multiple dependents who are eligible to receive benefits. However, you should know that there is a maximum family amount that one family can receive regarding Social Security family benefits.
For example, each child might be entitled to 75% of the deceased’s benefit. If five children are eligible, that will lead to a reasonably large payment. The family maximum is usually capped at 125% to 175% of the deceased’s benefit amount.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Social Security survivor benefits are designed to help support families after the death of a spouse or father. Surviving dependents may be eligible for financial benefits.
- Applying for Social Security survivor benefits may happen automatically for some, while others need to apply in person or by mail.
- Survivor benefits are calculated based on the lifetime earnings of the deceased or the future estimate of benefits.
Who Is Eligible For Social Security Survivor Benefits?
A dependent of the deceased may be eligible to receive survivor benefits. When you hear the word dependent, you often think of a child. However, depending on these benefits, a dependent might include many different people. Here are the various types of dependents who can be eligible to receive these benefits.
- A widow or widower age 60 or older (age 50 if they are disabled), provided that they have not remarried.
- A widow or widower at any age who is caring for the child (under age 16 or disabled) of the deceased
- A child of the deceased who is under 18 (19 if enrolled as a full-time student in elementary or secondary school)
- A child age 18 or older who is disabled, as long as the disability began before age 22
- A stepchild, adopted child, grandchild, or step-grandchild of the deceased, in some cases.
- A dependent parent of the deceased who is age 62 or older and was dependent on the deceased for at least half of their support
- A surviving divorced spouse, in some cases
As with many government programs, the eligibility rules can often be confusing. While the basics are listed above, there are sometimes additional requirements that might apply. This can be especially true for former spouses.
In that case, the marriage must have lasted at least ten years, and the former spouse must not be remarried unless the remarriage occurred after age 60. Deciding to remarry before age 60 will usually exclude a former spouse from receiving survivor benefits.
Applying For Social Security Survivor Benefits
Applying for survivor benefits is not difficult; in a few cases, an application is not even necessary. First, the Social Security Administration must be notified of the death. Most of the time, the local authorities or funeral homes will handle the notification to the SSA. However, to speed up the process, call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). At this time, you cannot report a death online.
Automatic Conversion
If you already receive spousal benefits, your benefit should be automatically switched to survivor benefits. There should be nothing else you need to do, and a separate application for survivor benefits should not be necessary. In some cases, you might even be eligible for a lump-sum death benefit payment. However, if you are not currently receiving benefits, you must complete an application to start your benefit payments.
In Person or By Phone
Currently, applications for survivor benefits cannot be completed online. This is due to the complexity of these benefits, as each application is unique. Call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to start your application. You may complete the application over the phone or make an appointment at your local Social Security office.
Submit Documents
As part of the application process, you will likely need to present some documentation that proves your eligibility. If possible, you should get these documents ready before starting your application. You will likely need a marriage certificate, death certificate, identification, divorce decree (if applicable), birth certificate, proof of citizenship, your Social Security card or number, and the deceased’s Social Security number.
You will likely also need your direct deposit information as part of the application process to deposit your benefit payments into your bank account. Once you have all this information together, call the Social Security Administration to start your application.
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How Are Social Security Survivor Benefits Calculated?
Survivor benefits are calculated using several different factors. The biggest factor is the deceased’s benefit amount, which is calculated based on the AIME, or average indexed monthly earnings, over the course of the deceased’s lifetime.
Lifetime Earnings
The more money the person earns over their lifetime, the higher the monthly benefit will be. The higher the amount that the deceased worker received or would have received at retirement age, the higher the amount of the survivor benefits.
Future Estimate of Benefits
In some cases, the deceased may not have been receiving benefits yet. This is often the case when calculating a child’s benefit. In that case, the calculation is performed using a future estimate of benefits. The SSA will estimate the benefit amount the deceased would have received at full retirement age. The survivor benefits will then be calculated using this amount.
Early Retirement Benefits
If the deceased started their Social Security benefits early, their monthly payments would be reduced. This reduction affects not only their benefit payments for the rest of their lives but also the amount of any survivor benefits that are due upon their death. Any payable survivor benefits would be calculated using the reduced benefit amount, not their full benefit, had they waited until full retirement age.
How Much Survivor Benefits Can You Receive?
The amount of benefits a survivor can receive varies based on their situation. A current spouse can receive up to 100% of the deceased’s benefits if they have already reached full retirement age.
Widow or Widower Benefit Amounts
So this means that a widow or widower’s benefit could be the same amount the deceased received. If the surviving spouse is between age 60 and full retirement age, they will be entitled to a benefit ranging from 71.5% to 99% of the deceased’s benefit amount. If that widow or widower is disabled, they can receive 71.5% of the benefit from age 50 to 59. A surviving spouse caring for a deceased’s child can receive 75% of the deceased’s benefit regardless of the surviving spouse’s age.
They might also be eligible for a death payment of $255 upon the death of their spouse.
Ex-Spouse Benefit Amounts
An ex-spouse is entitled to the same benefit amounts as a surviving spouse, provided they meet the other eligibility requirements for ex-spouses. Remember that the marriage must have lasted at least ten years, and the ex-spouse must not be remarried before age 60.
Child Benefit Amounts
When it comes to children, they typically are entitled to 75% of the deceased parent’s benefit amount. Remember that there is also a family maximum. So, if the deceased had multiple children, each one might not receive the complete 75%. In most cases, the family maximum ranges from 125% to 175% of the deceased’s benefit. Dependent parents can qualify for up to 82.5% of the deceased’s benefit. If both parents qualify as dependents, then each will receive 75%.
TIP
You cannot receive Social Security benefits based on your earnings and also receive survivor benefits. So, choosing the option that will lead to the highest long-term benefit is essential.
The Best Time To Claim A Survivor’s Benefit
The best time to claim your survivor’s benefit depends on your finances and how long you can go without receiving the benefits. Many variables can affect the timing and amount of benefits you might be eligible for. We will discuss options in the next section to maximize your survivor benefits, but as a general rule, it is often best to wait as long as possible to start your benefits.
Reduced Benefit Amounts
The earlier you start your survivor benefits, the lower the payment amount will be. Even though you can begin survivor benefits as a surviving spouse at age 60, the monthly payment will be higher if you wait until the full retirement age — age 67 in most cases. If you have minor children, then other considerations come into play.
Blackout Period
You should know about what some people call the Social Security blackout period. This is the period for which no one in the family is eligible for survivor benefits. Consider the following example. Suppose a surviving spouse is 40 years old with a child who is 12. The spouse and child would be eligible for survivor benefits in that case. However, when the child turns 18, those benefits would end. At that point, the spouse would be 46 years old and not eligible for surviving spouse benefits again until age 60.
There would be a 14-year blackout period during which no survivor benefits would be received. Many families turn to life insurance or other death benefits to help bridge that gap and financially care for their family.
How To Maximize Your Survivor’s Benefit
So, how do you get the most out of your survivor’s benefit? We hinted in the last section that waiting as long as possible to start your benefits is one strategy to increase your benefits. There are also a few other details that you need to consider to maximize your spousal benefits and survivor benefits. You have a few options if you are eligible for benefits based on your own work record.
One or the Other
First, you cannot receive benefits from your record and as a surviving spouse simultaneously. However, you can receive both benefits throughout your lifetime. If you are eligible and apply for both benefits, the Social Security Administration will automatically give you the higher amount. This means that if your survivor benefit is higher than your retirement benefit, you will receive the survivor benefit instead of your benefits based on your own earnings record.
Benefit Order
To maximize your benefits, you need to determine how much each would be and take the benefits in the order that works best for you.
- If your survivor benefit is much smaller than your benefit, it might make the most sense to start it at age 60 and then switch to your benefit at full retirement age.
- On the other hand, it might make more sense to use your benefit first and switch to your survivor benefit later if the survivor benefit is higher than yours.
Deciding when to start your benefits and in which order to use them often requires professional help. It would help if you considered using a financial planner to help you decide when to start your benefits and in which order to use them. Remember that you might also need to account for the costs of Medicare when determining your monthly budget and benefit payments.
The Bottom Line
Survivor benefits play a crucial role for many couples and families across America. These benefits provide payments to surviving family members of Social Security benefit recipients.
These benefits may extend to surviving spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, and ex-spouses. The rules for surviving spouse benefits are relatively straightforward, and you will generally qualify after reaching age 60. A few special exceptions might allow you to qualify sooner, like if you are caring for a child of the deceased or if you have a disability.
To apply, you must call the Social Security Administration or visit a local Social Security office, as online applications for survivor benefits are not currently possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
A widow can generally collect her husband’s Social Security at age 60. The husband must have worked for at least ten years in most cases, although there are some exceptions for younger individuals with minor children.
Suppose the widow already receives spousal benefits from her husband’s Social Security. In that case, those benefits will be automatically switched to survivor benefits once the Social Security Administration is notified of the death.
Spousal benefits are received while both spouses are still alive. This often happens when one spouse is the primary earner, and the other does not have a significant earnings history.
In that case, you can receive spousal benefits based on your spouse’s earnings record. The maximum benefit is 50% of the primary insurance amount. However, when a spouse dies, the widow or widower can receive survivor benefits. This benefit can be up to 100% of the deceased spouse’s benefit amount.
There is no age limit to receiving survivor benefits. If the surviving spouse is 60 or older, they will continue to receive those benefits for life. However, if the surviving spouse is younger than 60 and gets remarried, they will no longer be eligible to receive survivor benefits from their previous spouse’s earnings record.
Similarly, a younger spouse who receives benefits while caring for a child of the deceased will stop receiving benefits when the child turns 18. That same spouse can restart survivor benefits when they reach age 60, provided they have not remarried.
A surviving spouse needs to be age 60 or older and not remarried. The marriage to the deceased spouse must have lasted at least ten years before the spouse’s death.
A surviving spouse can be eligible for benefits at age 50 if he or she is disabled. Finally, the deceased spouse must have worked at least ten years (or have enough work credits) to qualify for Social Security benefits.
To start benefits, the widow needs to be 60 or older. If the widow is disabled, then she can start benefits at age 50. Once benefits have begun, there is no age limit to receiving the benefits.
She will continue to receive them for life, just like regular Social Security retirement benefits. There is one exception. If the widow is younger and caring for the deceased’s child, then her payments will stop when the child turns 18. Assuming she does not remarry, she can start her survivor benefits again when she reaches age 60.
You can find a Social Security Administration office near you by using our SSA office locator and searching for your closest location.
