What Spouse Survivor Benefits Are

When someone receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) dies, their spouse may receive a monthly payment from Social Security based on the deceased worker's earnings record. This is called a spouse survivor benefit. The payment is not based on your own work history — it comes from the same Social Security trust fund that paid the deceased worker.

The amount you receive is a percentage of what the deceased worker was receiving or would have been may have access to to receive. Social Security calls this the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). Your actual payment depends on your age when you start receiving benefits and whether you are caring for a child under 16.

You do not have to have been married for any particular length of time before the worker's death, but Social Security does verify the marriage was legal. If you remarry before age 60, you lose may be able to access for benefits on this worker's record — though you may later become may be able to access again if that marriage ends.

Key Takeaways

  • A spouse can receive survivor benefits at age 60 (or age 50 if disabled), or at any age if caring for the deceased worker's child under 16.
  • The monthly payment is typically 75 percent of the deceased worker's Primary Insurance Amount if you claim at full retirement age, or less if you claim earlier.
  • You must contact Social Security within 60 days of the worker's death to report the death and begin the process; waiting longer can delay your first payment.
  • Remarrying before age 60 ends your may be able to access on this worker's record, but you may regain it if that marriage later ends.
  • If you are already receiving your own retirement or disability benefits, Social Security will pay you whichever amount is higher, not both.

Age Requirements and When You Can Start Receiving

The age at which you can receive spouse survivor benefits depends on your situation. If you are not caring for a child, you must be at least age 60 to receive benefits. If you are disabled, you may be able to start at age 50, but Social Security will review your disability claim using their own rules — not the rules that applied to the deceased worker.

If you are caring for the deceased worker's biological, adopted, or stepchild who is under age 16, you can receive benefits at any age. This is sometimes called the "caring for a child" benefit. The child must be receiving survivor benefits themselves for you to may have access to under this rule. Once the youngest child turns 16, your benefits stop unless you are old enough to claim on your own (age 60 or older, or disabled at 50 or older).

If you claim before your full retirement age, your monthly payment will be reduced. The reduction is steeper the earlier you claim. For example, claiming at 60 instead of your full retirement age typically results in a payment of about 71.5 percent of your Primary Insurance Amount, rather than 75 percent or more.

How Much You Will Receive Each Month

Your monthly payment is calculated as a percentage of the deceased worker's Primary Insurance Amount. The exact percentage depends on your age when you start receiving benefits and your relationship to the worker.

At your full retirement age, a spouse typically receives 75 percent of the worker's Primary Insurance Amount. If you claim at 60, the payment is usually about 71.5 percent. If you are caring for a child under 16, you receive 75 percent regardless of your age. If you are disabled and claim at 50, you typically receive 71.5 percent.

Social Security will not tell you the exact dollar amount until you contact them, because the Primary Insurance Amount depends on the worker's complete earnings history. You can get an estimate by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visiting your local Social Security office with the worker's Social Security number and birth date.

How to Report the Death and Start the Process

Report the death to Social Security as soon as possible — ideally within 60 days. You can report the death by phone, in person, or online. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to speak with a representative, or visit your nearest Social Security office. If you are reporting online, go to ssa.gov and use the "Report the Death of a Social Security Beneficiary" tool.

Have the following information ready: the worker's Social Security number, date of death, and the date and place of death. You will also need to provide your own name, Social Security number, date of birth, and current mailing address. If you are explore for survivor benefits, Social Security will ask about your marital history and whether you are caring for any children.

After you report the death, Social Security will send you a form to complete if you are claiming survivor benefits. The form is called the process for Widow(er)'s Insurance Benefits (Form SSA-10). You will need to provide proof of the marriage, proof of your age, and proof of the worker's death (usually a certified death certificate). Social Security will tell you which documents to send and where to send them.

Documents You Will Need to Provide

Social Security requires specific documents to process your claim. For proof of the marriage, you will need an original or certified copy of the marriage certificate. If you have been married more than once, bring certificates for all marriages. If any marriage ended in divorce, bring the divorce decree or final divorce judgment.

For proof of your age, bring your birth certificate, passport, or driver's license. For proof of the worker's death, bring a certified copy of the death certificate — you can usually get this from the county vital records office or the funeral home. Some funeral homes will send a copy directly to Social Security if you ask.

If you are claiming as a disabled spouse at age 50 or older, Social Security will also ask for medical evidence of your disability. This works differently than SSDI disability rules. You will need to provide records from doctors or hospitals showing the condition that disables you, when it started, and how it affects your ability to work.

What Happens After You Submit Your Claim

After you submit your process and documents, Social Security will review your claim. This typically takes 2 to 4 weeks, though it can take longer if Social Security needs to request additional information from you or from the worker's employer.

Social Security will contact you by mail or phone if they need more information. If you do not hear from them within a month, you can call 1-800-772-1213 to check the status of your claim. Have your Social Security number and the worker's Social Security number ready.

Once Social Security approves your claim, they will send you a notice showing your monthly payment amount and your start date. Your first payment may arrive by direct deposit or check, depending on how you set up your account. Payments are usually made on the third or fourth Wednesday of each month, depending on your birth date.

How Remarriage Affects Your Benefits

If you remarry before age 60, your survivor benefits on this worker's record will stop when ready. You cannot receive survivor benefits while you are married to someone else, with one exception: if you remarry after age 60, your benefits continue.

If you remarry after age 60, you keep your survivor benefits on the deceased worker's record. You may also be able to receive benefits on your new spouse's record if they are receiving Social Security, though Social Security will pay you whichever amount is higher — not both.

If your remarriage ends (by death, divorce, or annulment), you may regain may be able to access for survivor benefits on the original worker's record. Contact Social Security to report the change. Your benefits will restart, though there may be a delay while Social Security processes the change.

If You Are Already Receiving Your Own Social Security Benefits

If you are already receiving your own retirement or disability benefits, Social Security will not pay you both amounts. Instead, they will pay you whichever is higher. This is called the deemed filing rule. Social Security automatically compares the two amounts and pays the larger one.

For example, if your own retirement benefit is $1,200 per month and your survivor benefit would be $1,400 per month, Social Security will pay you $1,400. If your own benefit is $1,600 and the survivor benefit is $1,400, Social Security will pay you $1,600. You do not have to choose — Social Security makes the comparison for you.

If you have not yet started your own retirement benefits, you may want to contact Social Security before claiming survivor benefits. A representative can explain how both amounts work in your situation and help you understand which option gives you the most money over your lifetime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive survivor benefits if we were not legally married?

No. Social Security requires a legal marriage to pay spouse survivor benefits. If you were in a long-term relationship but never married, you cannot claim on that person's record. Some states recognize common-law marriage, but Social Security follows federal law, which requires a legal marriage certificate.

What if the worker was not yet receiving SSDI when they died?

You can still receive survivor benefits. The worker does not have to have started receiving payments — they only need to have worked long enough to be insured. Social Security will calculate what the worker would have been may have access to to receive and base your payment on that amount.

Do I lose my survivor benefits if I go back to work?

No. Unlike some other Social Security benefits, survivor benefits do not have an earnings limit. You can work and earn as much as you want without losing your survivor benefits. However, if you are under full retirement age and earn above a certain amount, your benefits may be reduced — ask Social Security about the current earnings limit.

Can my adult child receive survivor benefits?

Only if they are disabled. Adult children can receive survivor benefits only if they became disabled before age 22 and remain disabled. If your adult child meets this requirement, they should contact Social Security to explore. The rules are different from spouse survivor benefits.

What if I think the payment amount is wrong?

Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and ask them to explain how they calculated your benefit. You can also request a detailed breakdown of the calculation in writing. If you believe there is an error, you can file a request for reconsideration within 60 days of receiving the notice of your benefit amount.