Survivor Benefits Paid to Your Spouse

When you die, your spouse may receive survivor benefits based on your Social Security record. These are separate from any benefits you were receiving while alive. The amount depends on your age when you die, how long you were on SSDI, and your spouse's age or status at the time of your death.

Your spouse does not have to be disabled to collect. The rules are different from SSDI itself. A spouse can receive benefits at any age if they are caring for your child who is under 16, or at age 60 or older (age 50 or older if disabled). A divorced spouse may also be may have access to if the marriage lasted at least 10 years.

The payment comes from the same Social Security trust fund that paid your benefits. It is not a separate program or a life insurance payout. Social Security will contact your family after your death is reported, but your spouse should also contact Social Security directly to report the death and ask about survivor benefits.

Key Takeaways

  • Your spouse can receive survivor benefits at age 60, at any age if caring for your child under 16, or at age 50 if disabled.
  • The benefit amount is a percentage of what you were receiving or would have received, not a fixed sum.
  • Your spouse must contact Social Security or visit a local office to claim survivor benefits; the agency does not automatically send payments.
  • A divorced spouse married to you for at least 10 years may also be may have access to to survivor benefits under the same rules.
  • Survivor benefits continue for your spouse's lifetime if they reach full retirement age, or until they remarry if they are under full retirement age.

How Much Your Spouse Will Receive

The amount is calculated as a percentage of your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA)—the benefit you were receiving or would have received at full retirement age. Your spouse typically receives 75 percent of your PIA if they claim at full retirement age, or a reduced amount if they claim earlier.

If your spouse is caring for your child under 16, they receive 75 percent regardless of their own age. If they are 60 or older, the percentage depends on when they claim: at 60 they receive about 71 percent; at 62 they receive about 72 percent; at full retirement age they receive 75 percent. If your spouse is disabled and between 50 and 60, they receive 71.5 percent.

The exact percentages shift slightly year to year based on Social Security's cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). You can see your estimated PIA on your Social Security statement, which you can view online at ssa.gov if you have a my Social Security account. Your spouse should ask Social Security for a specific estimate once they contact the agency.

When Your Spouse Can Claim and How to Start

Your spouse should contact Social Security as soon as possible after your death. They can call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), visit a local Social Security office, or create an account at ssa.gov to report your death and ask about survivor benefits. They will need your Social Security number and a death certificate.

There is no time limit to claim survivor benefits, but the sooner your spouse contacts Social Security, the sooner payments can begin. Benefits are usually paid the month after the month in which you died, but Social Security will explain the exact timeline when your spouse calls.

Your spouse should bring or have ready: your death certificate (an official copy, not a photocopy), their own Social Security number, proof of citizenship or legal residency if they were not born in the United States, and their birth certificate. If they are caring for your child, they will also need the child's birth certificate and Social Security number.

How Remarriage Affects Survivor Benefits

If your spouse remarries before age 60, their survivor benefits stop. If they remarry at age 60 or later, the benefits continue. This rule applies whether they remarry once or multiple times.

If your spouse remarries and then that marriage ends (by death, divorce, or annulment), they may be able to restart survivor benefits on your record if they meet the age or caregiving requirements again. They should contact Social Security to report the change in marital status.

A divorced spouse has the same remarriage rules: benefits stop if they remarry before 60, and continue if they remarry at 60 or later. If the remarriage ends, they can restart benefits on your record.

Survivor Benefits for Your Children

Your unmarried children under 19 (or up to 23 if still in high school full-time) may also receive survivor benefits. A disabled child of any age may receive benefits if the disability began before age 22. Each child typically receives 75 percent of your PIA, though the total paid to your whole family cannot exceed about 150 to 180 percent of your PIA.

When the family maximum is reached, each child's benefit is reduced proportionally. For example, if you have three children and a spouse all receiving benefits, and the family total would exceed the maximum, Social Security divides the maximum amount among them. Your spouse's benefit may be reduced, or your children's benefits may be reduced, or both.

Your spouse caring for a child under 16 receives benefits at any age. Once the youngest child turns 16, your spouse's benefits stop until they reach 60, unless they become disabled. The children's benefits continue until they reach the age limit or the disability ends.

Taxes on Survivor Benefits

Survivor benefits may be taxable depending on your spouse's total income. If their combined income (adjusted gross income plus half of their Social Security benefits) exceeds certain thresholds, up to 50 or 85 percent of the benefits may be subject to federal income tax. The thresholds are $25,000 for a single filer and $32,000 for married filing jointly.

Your spouse will receive a Form SSA-1099 each January showing the benefits paid in the previous year. They should report this on their tax return. A tax professional or the IRS can help determine whether benefits are taxable in their specific situation.

Some states do not tax Social Security benefits at all. Your spouse should check their state's tax rules or speak with a tax preparer about their state's treatment of survivor benefits.

What Happens If Your Spouse Was Already Receiving Benefits

If your spouse was receiving spousal benefits based on your record while you were alive, those benefits will change to survivor benefits after your death. The amount may increase because survivor benefits are typically higher than spousal benefits. Social Security will recalculate automatically.

If your spouse was receiving their own retirement benefits, they will continue to receive those. They cannot receive both their own retirement benefit and a survivor benefit; Social Security pays whichever is higher. This is called the "deemed filing" rule, though the rules have changed in recent years depending on when your spouse was born.

Your spouse should contact Social Security after your death to make sure their record is updated correctly. Sometimes the agency does not automatically adjust benefits, and your spouse may need to call or visit an office to request the change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my spouse receive survivor benefits if we were divorced?

Yes, if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and your spouse has not remarried (or remarried after age 60). The rules are the same as for a current spouse: they can claim at 60, at any age if caring for your child under 16, or at 50 if disabled. They should contact Social Security with proof of the divorce and your death certificate.

What if my spouse is not a U.S. citizen?

Non-citizens may receive survivor benefits if they meet the age or caregiving requirements. They will need to show proof of legal residency or citizenship status. Some non-citizens living outside the United States face restrictions; your spouse should ask Social Security about their specific situation when they contact the agency.

Do survivor benefits end if my spouse goes back to work?

No. Unlike some other Social Security benefits, survivor benefits do not have an earnings limit. Your spouse can work and earn any amount without affecting their survivor benefits. However, if they are under full retirement age and earn above a certain amount in the year they claim, benefits may be reduced for that year only.

Can my spouse claim survivor benefits and their own retirement benefits at the same time?

No. Social Security pays whichever benefit is higher. If your spouse is may be able to access for both, the agency will pay the larger amount. Your spouse should ask Social Security to calculate both options when they contact the agency to claim.

What if my spouse never worked or has very low earnings?

It does not matter. Survivor benefits are based on your earnings record, not your spouse's. Your spouse can receive survivor benefits even if they never worked or have no Social Security record of their own.