A spouse can receive SSDI survivor benefits if the worker who earned the benefit had enough work credits at the time of death
When a worker covered by Social Security dies, their surviving spouse may receive monthly payments based on the worker's earnings record. The spouse does not need to have worked or earned their own Social Security credits. Instead, the benefit is paid because of the family relationship to the deceased worker and the worker's own work history.
The amount a surviving spouse receives is a percentage of what the deceased worker was receiving or would have received if they had claimed. The exact percentage depends on the spouse's age at the time they claim and whether they are caring for a child under 16.
Key Takeaways
- A surviving spouse can receive 75 percent of the worker's benefit amount if they claim at full retirement age, or 71.5 percent if they claim at age 60.
- A spouse caring for the worker's child under age 16 can receive 75 percent of the benefit at any age, with no reduction for age.
- The worker must have earned at least 40 work credits (roughly 10 years of covered work) for the spouse to be may be able to access.
- A surviving spouse can begin receiving benefits as early as age 60, or at any age if caring for a child under 16.
- Remarriage after age 60 does not end benefits, but remarriage before age 60 does.
Age requirements and benefit amounts for surviving spouses
A surviving spouse can claim benefits starting at age 60. If they wait until their full retirement age (which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on birth year), they receive 75 percent of the worker's primary insurance amount. If they claim at 60, the benefit is reduced to 71.5 percent. Each year between 60 and full retirement age results in a smaller monthly payment.
A spouse caring for the worker's child under age 16 can claim at any age and receive 75 percent of the worker's benefit with no age-based reduction. This is the only scenario where a surviving spouse receives the full 75 percent without waiting until full retirement age.
The total amount paid to all family members on a worker's record cannot exceed a family maximum, which is typically 150 to 180 percent of what the worker was receiving. If multiple survivors claim, the payments are divided proportionally, and each person's individual payment may be reduced.
Work credits and the worker's earnings history
For a spouse to receive any survivor benefit, the deceased worker must have earned enough work credits at the time of death. A worker needs 40 credits total to be fully insured for survivor benefits. Credits are earned through covered work and Social Security taxes; in 2024, one credit is earned for each $1,730 in wages (the amount changes annually). Most workers earn four credits per year.
A worker who dies before reaching full retirement age may may have access to for survivor benefits with fewer than 40 credits if they have earned at least six credits in the three years before death. This is called being "currently insured" and allows a spouse to receive benefits even if the worker had not yet accumulated 40 lifetime credits.
You can verify the worker's earnings record and credits by requesting a Social Security Statement from the Social Security Administration. This document shows the number of credits earned and the estimated benefit amounts for different family members.
Remarriage and how it affects survivor benefits
A surviving spouse who remarries before age 60 loses may be able to access for benefits based on the deceased worker's record. If they remarry at age 60 or later, they keep the survivor benefit and can continue to receive it regardless of the new marriage.
A spouse caring for a child under 16 loses benefits if they remarry, regardless of age. The child's own benefit is not affected by the parent's remarriage.
If a surviving spouse remarries and later divorces, they may regain may be able to access for the deceased worker's survivor benefit if the remarriage ended and they meet the age requirement (60 or older, or any age if caring for a child under 16).
How survivor benefits interact with other income and work
A surviving spouse can work and receive survivor benefits without restriction once they reach full retirement age. Before full retirement age, there is an earnings limit: in 2024, benefits are reduced by $1 for every $2 earned above $23,400 (the limit changes annually). The month the spouse reaches full retirement age, the earnings limit no longer applies, regardless of how much they earn.
Survivor benefits do not count as income for purposes of means-tested programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid in most cases. However, they may affect may be able to access for other benefits or tax treatment depending on the state and the survivor's total income.
A surviving spouse who is also receiving their own Social Security retirement or disability benefit cannot receive both in full. Social Security will pay the higher of the two amounts, not both combined. This is called the "deemed filing" rule, though it applies differently depending on the spouse's birth year.
How to report a worker's death and claim survivor benefits
When a worker dies, the funeral home typically reports the death to Social Security, or family members can report it themselves by calling 1-800-772-1213. Social Security will then identify all family members who may be may be able to access for survivor benefits based on the worker's record.
A surviving spouse can claim benefits by contacting Social Security directly. They will need to provide proof of the worker's death (a certified death certificate), proof of the spouse's age and identity, and proof of the marriage. Social Security will schedule an appointment to take the claim, either in person at a local office or by phone.
Benefits typically begin the month after the claim is filed, though in some cases they can be backdated to an earlier month if the spouse meets the age requirement. It is not necessary to wait for probate or the settlement of the worker's estate to claim survivor benefits.
Survivor benefits for divorced spouses
A divorced spouse can receive survivor benefits on the deceased worker's record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and the divorced spouse is at least 60 years old (or any age if caring for a child under 16 from that marriage). The divorced spouse does not need permission from the worker or the worker's current family to claim.
A divorced spouse who remarries before age 60 loses may be able to access for the deceased worker's benefits, just as a current spouse does. If the remarriage ends, may be able to access can be restored if the divorced spouse is 60 or older at the time of the new claim.
If the deceased worker was divorced more than once, multiple ex-spouses may be may be able to access for survivor benefits. Each receives a separate benefit based on the worker's record, and the family maximum still applies to all survivors combined.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a surviving spouse receive benefits if the worker never claimed Social Security?
Yes. The worker does not have to have claimed benefits during their lifetime for the family to receive survivor benefits. As long as the worker had enough work credits at the time of death, the surviving spouse and other family members can claim based on the worker's earnings record.
What happens to survivor benefits if the spouse turns 60 after the worker dies?
The spouse can claim benefits once they reach age 60. If they claim at 60, the benefit is 71.5 percent of the worker's amount. If they wait until full retirement age, the benefit increases to 75 percent. The longer they wait between 60 and full retirement age, the higher the monthly payment.
Can a surviving spouse receive benefits while also working full-time?
Yes, but only without an earnings limit once they reach full retirement age. Before full retirement age, earnings above the annual limit reduce the benefit by $1 for every $2 earned. In 2024, the limit is $23,400. Once full retirement age is reached, there is no limit on earnings.
Do survivor benefits end at any point?
A surviving spouse's benefits continue for life as long as they do not remarry before age 60 and continue to meet other requirements. A spouse caring for a child under 16 loses benefits when the youngest child turns 16, even if the spouse is younger than 60.
What if the worker had very low earnings or worked only part of their life?
The survivor benefit is calculated based on the worker's actual earnings record, including any years with no earnings. A worker with lower lifetime earnings will have a lower primary insurance amount, which means the surviving spouse's benefit will also be lower. However, as long as the worker had 40 credits, the spouse remains may be able to access.