How survivor benefits work for a spouse

When a worker who paid into Social Security dies, their surviving spouse can receive monthly payments based on the worker's earnings record — not their own. The payment amount depends on the worker's age at death, how long they had been paying into Social Security, and the survivor's own age when they start receiving payments. You do not need to have worked to receive this benefit.

Social Security treats surviving spouses differently based on age and whether they are caring for the worker's children. A spouse aged 60 or older can receive a reduced benefit. A spouse of any age caring for the worker's child under 16 can receive a full benefit. A spouse aged 50 to 59 who is disabled can also receive a benefit. The earliest a non-disabled spouse can start is age 60, and the payment will be smaller than if they wait until their full retirement age.

Key Takeaways

  • A surviving spouse aged 60 or older can receive a reduced monthly payment; waiting until full retirement age increases the amount.
  • A surviving spouse of any age caring for the worker's child under 16 receives a full benefit based on the worker's record.
  • A surviving spouse aged 50 to 59 who is disabled may receive a benefit if the disability began before or within seven years of the worker's death.
  • You must report the worker's death to Social Security within two months to start the process; contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213.
  • The total amount all family members can receive is capped at 150 to 180 percent of what the worker would have received at full retirement age.

Age requirements and payment amounts

A surviving spouse can start receiving payments at age 60, but the monthly amount will be about 71 to 72 percent of the worker's full retirement age benefit. If you wait until your full retirement age — which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year — you receive 100 percent of the worker's benefit amount. Waiting past full retirement age does not increase a survivor benefit the way it does for your own retirement benefit.

If you are caring for the worker's child who is under 16, you can receive a full benefit at any age. This benefit ends when the youngest child turns 16, unless you are disabled. At that point, you would need to be at least 60 to continue receiving payments.

A surviving spouse aged 50 to 59 who becomes disabled can receive about 71 to 72 percent of the worker's benefit. The disability must have started before the worker died or within seven years after their death. Social Security uses its own definition of disability, which is strict: the condition must prevent you from working and be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.

What you need to report and documents to gather

Contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 as soon as possible after the worker's death. You do not need to wait for a death certificate to call, but you will need to provide one when you file. Social Security will ask for the worker's Social Security number, the date of death, and your relationship to the worker.

Bring or send these documents: an original or certified copy of the death certificate, your birth certificate, your marriage certificate (if you are a spouse), and proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency if you were not born in the United States. If you are applying as a disabled spouse, you will also need medical records documenting your disability and when it began. Social Security may request additional documents depending on your situation.

If you are already receiving your own Social Security retirement or disability benefit, Social Security will compare your benefit to the survivor benefit and pay you whichever is higher. You cannot receive both at the same time.

How the family maximum affects your payment

Social Security limits the total amount all family members can receive based on one worker's record. This family maximum is typically 150 to 180 percent of what the worker would have received at full retirement age. If multiple family members are receiving benefits — such as a surviving spouse, children, and a parent — Social Security divides the maximum among them.

When the family maximum is reached, each person's benefit is reduced proportionally. For example, if the maximum is $3,000 per month and the total of all family benefits would be $3,500, each person receives about 86 percent of their calculated amount. The worker's own retirement benefit (if they were already receiving one) does not count toward the family maximum, but all survivor benefits do.

Remarriage and how it affects your benefit

If you remarry before age 60, your survivor benefit stops. If you remarry at age 60 or later, you can continue receiving the benefit based on your first spouse's record. If your new spouse also receives Social Security, you may be able to receive a spousal benefit on their record instead, but Social Security will pay you whichever benefit is higher, not both.

If you remarry and then that marriage ends, you may be able to go back to receiving the survivor benefit from your first spouse if you meet the age and other requirements. Contact Social Security to discuss your specific situation.

Earnings limits if you work while receiving benefits

If you are under your full retirement age and receive survivor benefits, Social Security reduces your payment by $1 for every $2 you earn above a yearly limit. For 2024, that limit is $23,400, but this amount changes each year. In the year you reach full retirement age, the reduction is $1 for every $3 earned above a different limit, and only earnings before the month you reach full retirement age count.

Once you reach your full retirement age, you can earn any amount without a reduction to your benefit. If you are receiving a survivor benefit as a disabled spouse, different earnings rules apply; contact Social Security for details.

How to report a death and start the process

Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office in person. You can find your nearest office at ssa.gov/locator. Have the worker's Social Security number ready, along with the date of death and your relationship to the worker.

Social Security will schedule an appointment or process your report by phone. You do not need to have the death certificate immediately, but you will need to provide one within a reasonable time. If the worker was receiving Social Security benefits, the agency may already know about the death through other government records, but it is still your responsibility to report it to make sure survivor benefits are processed.

Processing typically takes two to four weeks once you have submitted all required documents. During this time, Social Security may contact you with questions or requests for additional information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive survivor benefits if I was divorced from the worker?

Yes, if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and you are at least 60 years old (or 50 if disabled). You can also receive benefits at any age if you are caring for the worker's child under 16. The rules are the same as for a current spouse, and remarriage before age 60 will end your benefit.

What happens to my survivor benefit if I start my own retirement benefit?

Social Security pays you the higher of the two benefits, not both. If you were born before January 2, 1954, you may have other options; contact Social Security to discuss your birth year and circumstances.

Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to receive survivor benefits?

No, but you must be a lawful resident. If you live outside the United States, different rules may apply. Contact Social Security to confirm your situation before moving abroad.

What if the worker did not have a Social Security number?

The worker must have had a valid Social Security number and sufficient work credits to have survivor benefits paid. Work credits are earned by paying into Social Security through employment. If the worker did not meet these requirements, survivor benefits are not available.

Can my benefit be garnished or taken to pay debts?

Social Security survivor benefits are generally protected from creditors and wage garnishment. However, the federal government can offset benefits to collect unpaid federal taxes, federal student loans in default, or child support and alimony owed. Contact Social Security if you believe an offset has been applied in error.