What widow and widower benefits are, and who receives them

Widow and widower benefits are monthly payments from Social Security to the surviving spouse of a worker who has died. You do not have to be a certain age to receive them, but the amount you get and when you can start collecting depends on your age at the time you apply. Social Security pays these benefits based on the deceased worker's earnings record, not your own.

You can be a widow, widower, or surviving spouse in a same-sex marriage. The rules are the same regardless of gender. If you were divorced from the deceased worker, you may also be able to receive benefits on their record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years.

These benefits are separate from any life insurance or other payments you may receive. Social Security does not reduce widow benefits because you have other income, though your benefits may be subject to federal income tax depending on your total income for the year.

Key Takeaways

  • You can receive widow or widower benefits at any age if you are caring for the deceased worker's child under 16, or at age 50 if you are disabled, or at age 60 if you are not disabled.
  • The amount you receive is a percentage of what the deceased worker was receiving or would have received, and it ranges from roughly 75 percent to 100 percent depending on your age.
  • You must contact Social Security directly to report the death and start the process; benefits do not begin automatically.
  • If you remarry before age 60 (or age 50 if disabled), your widow benefits will stop, though they may restart if that marriage ends.
  • You can work while receiving widow benefits, but if you are under full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above an annual limit.

Age and the amount you receive

The age you start collecting widow benefits determines the percentage of the deceased worker's benefit amount you receive. At full retirement age — which is 66 to 67 depending on the year you were born — you receive 100 percent of what the worker was getting or would have gotten. If you start at 60, you receive roughly 71 to 72 percent. If you start at 50 because you are disabled, you receive roughly 71 percent.

There is no age requirement if you are caring for a child of the deceased worker who is under 16. In that case, you can receive benefits at any age, and the amount is roughly 75 percent of the worker's benefit. Once the youngest child turns 16, your benefits stop until you reach 60.

If you wait past your full retirement age to start collecting, your benefit does not increase the way it does for retirement benefits. Widow benefits max out at your full retirement age amount. There is no financial advantage to waiting past that point.

How to report a death and start the process

You must contact Social Security yourself to report the death. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office in person. Have the deceased worker's Social Security number and birth date ready. You will also need to provide a death certificate or a certified copy of it.

Social Security does not automatically know when someone dies. Even if the death was reported to Medicare or another agency, you still need to tell Social Security directly. The sooner you report it, the sooner the agency can process your claim and begin payments.

When you call or visit, a Social Security representative will ask you questions about your relationship to the deceased worker, your age, whether you are caring for any children, and whether you have other income. They will explain what documents you need to bring and when to expect a decision. The process typically takes two to four weeks once you have submitted all required paperwork.

Documents you will need to provide

Social Security requires proof of the death, proof of your identity, and proof of your relationship to the deceased worker. A certified death certificate (not a photocopy) satisfies the death requirement. You can request this from the vital records office in the county or state where the death occurred.

For your identity, bring a government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license or passport. If you do not have one, Social Security can accept other documents like a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or bank statement.

To prove your relationship, bring your marriage certificate if you are a widow or widower. If you were divorced from the deceased worker, bring the divorce decree and proof that the marriage lasted at least 10 years. If you are caring for a child under 16, bring the child's birth certificate showing the deceased worker as a parent.

Earnings limits and how work affects your benefits

If you are under your full retirement age and you work, Social Security reduces your widow benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn above an annual limit. For 2024, that limit is $23,400, though it changes each year. Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no earnings limit and your benefits do not reduce no matter how much you work.

The earnings limit applies only to wages from employment and net income from self-employment. It does not include investment income, pensions, annuities, or other types of income. If you are unsure whether a particular income counts, ask Social Security when you report your earnings.

You are required to report your earnings to Social Security each year. If you earn more than the limit, Social Security will adjust your benefit payment automatically. You do not have to pay back overpayments if you reported your income accurately.

What happens if you remarry

If you remarry before age 60, your widow benefits will stop immediately. If you remarry at 60 or later, your benefits continue. This rule applies whether you remarry someone who receives Social Security or not.

If your new marriage ends — by death, divorce, or annulment — your widow benefits from the original deceased worker may restart. You will need to contact Social Security to request reinstatement. The amount you receive will be based on your age at the time you restart, not your age when you first stopped receiving benefits.

If you are caring for a child under 16 at the time you remarry, your benefits do not stop. The child-in-care rule overrides the remarriage rule. Your benefits as a caregiver continue, but any benefits you were receiving based on your own age do stop.

Divorced widow and widower benefits

If you were divorced from the deceased worker, you can receive widow or widower benefits on their record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and you have not remarried before age 60. The rules about age, benefit amounts, and earnings limits are the same as for current spouses.

You do not need permission from the deceased worker's family or estate to claim these benefits. Social Security only looks at whether the marriage lasted 10 years and whether you meet the age or caregiver requirements. If you were married multiple times to the same person, Social Security counts the total length of all marriages combined.

If you remarried after the divorce and that marriage ended, you may still be able to claim on the original deceased worker's record. Contact Social Security to discuss your specific situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive widow benefits and my own retirement benefits at the same time?

No. Social Security pays you whichever benefit is higher, not both. If you are may have access to to both widow benefits and your own retirement benefit, Social Security automatically pays the larger amount. You cannot choose to receive one instead of the other.

What if the deceased worker had not yet started collecting Social Security?

You can still receive widow benefits. Social Security calculates what the worker would have received at their full retirement age and bases your benefit on that amount. You do not need the worker to have actually started collecting for you to be paid.

Do widow benefits count as income for Medicaid or other programs?

Yes. Widow benefits are counted as income when you apply for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or other means-tested programs. The amount counts toward your income limit. Contact the program directly to understand how it affects your case.

Can I receive widow benefits if I am still working full-time?

Yes, but your benefits will be reduced if you are under your full retirement age and earn more than the annual limit. Once you reach full retirement age, you can work as much as you want without any reduction to your benefits.

How long do widow benefits last?

Widow benefits continue for life as long as you do not remarry before age 60 (or age 50 if disabled). If you remarry at 60 or later, benefits continue. If you remarry before 60, benefits stop but may restart if that marriage ends.