A surviving spouse can receive monthly payments from Social Security based on their deceased spouse's work record
When a person who worked and paid Social Security taxes dies, their spouse may be may have access to to survivor benefits. These are monthly payments made by Social Security to family members left behind. A surviving spouse does not need to have worked or paid taxes themselves to receive these payments — they are based entirely on the deceased person's Social Security record.
The amount you receive depends on your age when you start collecting, your relationship to the person who died, and how much they earned during their working years. Social Security calculates a Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) based on the deceased worker's lifetime earnings, and your payment is a percentage of that amount.
Key Takeaways
- A surviving spouse can receive benefits at age 60, or at age 50 if they are caring for a child under 16 or disabled.
- The monthly payment is a percentage of what the deceased spouse would have received at their full retirement age, and the exact percentage depends on when you start collecting.
- You must contact Social Security directly to report a death and begin the process — they do not automatically know when someone passes away.
- If you remarry before age 60, you generally lose the right to benefits based on your previous spouse's record, though exceptions exist for remarriage after 60.
Age requirements and when you can start receiving payments
The age at which you can receive survivor benefits depends on your situation. A surviving spouse can begin collecting at age 60 (or age 50 if disabled). There is one exception: if you are caring for a child of the deceased who is under age 16, you can collect at any age, as long as the child is under 16 and in your care.
The earlier you start collecting, the smaller your monthly payment will be. If you wait until your full retirement age — which varies depending on your birth year, typically between 66 and 67 — you will receive a larger monthly amount. Waiting past your full retirement age does not increase the payment further, unlike benefits for retired workers.
If you are disabled, you may be able to start collecting at age 50. Social Security will review your medical records to determine if you meet their definition of disability, which is strict and requires that your condition prevent you from working for at least 12 months or result in death.
How much you will receive each month
Your monthly payment is calculated as a percentage of the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) — the amount your deceased spouse would have received at their full retirement age. The exact percentage depends on your age when you start collecting.
If you start at age 60, you typically receive about 71.5% of the PIA. If you wait until your full retirement age, you receive 100% of the PIA. If you are caring for a child under 16, you also receive 75% of the PIA regardless of your age. These percentages are set by law and do not change.
Social Security will calculate the PIA based on your deceased spouse's earnings record. You can request a Social Security Statement to see an estimate of what benefits would have been paid. Keep in mind that the actual amount may vary slightly based on cost-of-living adjustments and other factors.
What happens if you remarry
If you remarry before age 60, you will lose the right to collect benefits based on your previous spouse's record. This rule exists to prevent someone from collecting on multiple spouses' records simultaneously. However, if you remarry at age 60 or later, you keep your benefits and they are not affected.
If you remarry and then that marriage ends (through death, divorce, or annulment), you may regain the right to collect on your first deceased spouse's record, provided you meet the other requirements. Social Security will evaluate your situation based on the specific dates and circumstances.
If your new spouse is also receiving Social Security benefits, there are rules about how family benefits are divided among household members. Social Security can explain how remarriage affects your specific situation when you contact them.
How to report a death and start the process
You must contact Social Security to report the death. Social Security does not automatically receive death notifications from hospitals, funeral homes, or state vital records offices. Call 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office in person. Have the deceased person's Social Security number and birth date ready.
When you report the death, Social Security will ask you questions about your relationship to the deceased, your age, and whether you have minor children. They will explain what benefits you may be may have access to to and what documents you will need to provide. You will likely need to submit a certified death certificate, which you can obtain from the vital records office in the state where the death occurred.
Social Security may also ask for proof of your marriage (marriage certificate), proof of your age (birth certificate), and proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency if applicable. Having these documents ready will speed up the process, though you do not need to have them all before you call.
Limits on family benefits and how they affect your payment
Social Security has a rule called the family maximum. This means that the total amount paid to all family members on one person's record cannot exceed a certain percentage of the PIA — usually between 150% and 180%. If multiple family members are collecting (for example, a surviving spouse and minor children), Social Security divides the family maximum among them.
If the family maximum is reached, each person's payment is reduced proportionally. This does not affect your own benefits if you are the only survivor collecting, but it is important to understand if there are other family members receiving payments on the same record. Social Security will calculate the family maximum and explain how it applies to your household.
Other things that can affect your benefits
If you are under your full retirement age and you earn income from work, your benefits may be reduced. Social Security has an earnings test that applies to people under full retirement age. For every two dollars you earn above a certain limit (the limit changes each year), one dollar is withheld from your benefits. Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no earnings limit.
If you move outside the United States, you may still be able to receive benefits, but the rules are complex and depend on your citizenship and the country where you live. Contact Social Security before you move to understand how it will affect your payments.
If you are also receiving benefits based on your own work record, Social Security will pay you the higher of the two amounts, not both. This is called the Government Pension Offset rule, and it applies in certain situations. Social Security will explain which benefit you receive and why.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive benefits if my spouse and I were not legally married?
No. Social Security requires a legal marriage to pay survivor benefits to a spouse. If you were in a long-term relationship but never married, you cannot collect on that person's record. Some states recognize common-law marriage under certain conditions — if you believe this applies to you, contact Social Security with documentation of your state's requirements.
What if my spouse was not yet receiving Social Security when they died?
You can still receive survivor benefits. Social Security calculates what your spouse would have received based on their lifetime earnings record, even if they had not yet started collecting. You do not need to wait until they would have reached retirement age.
How long do survivor benefits continue?
Survivor benefits continue for as long as you live, as long as you remain unmarried before age 60 (or remain unmarried at all if you started collecting before age 60). If you remarry at 60 or later, benefits continue. If you are caring for a child under 16, benefits continue as long as the child is in your care and under 16.
Can I change my mind about when to start collecting?
Social Security has limited rules about withdrawing an process or changing your start date. If you started collecting and later want to stop, you can request to withdraw your process within 12 months of starting, but you must repay all benefits received. After 12 months, you cannot withdraw. Contact Social Security to discuss your specific situation.
What if I think the amount I am receiving is wrong?
Request a detailed calculation from Social Security showing how your benefit was determined. You can also ask for a Social Security Statement showing your spouse's earnings record. If you believe there is an error, you can file a written request for reconsideration with your local Social Security office within 60 days of receiving the decision you disagree with.