What widow and widower benefits are, and who receives them

If your spouse worked and paid Social Security taxes, you may receive monthly payments based on their earnings record after they die. These payments are called widow's or widower's benefits, and they come from the same Social Security trust fund that pays retirement and disability benefits. You do not need to have worked yourself to receive them, though if you did work, you may have a choice between your own benefit and a widow's benefit.

The amount you receive depends on your spouse's lifetime earnings, your age when you start receiving benefits, and whether you are caring for a child under 16. Social Security calculates a Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) based on your spouse's work history, and your benefit is a percentage of that amount. The younger you are when you start, the smaller your monthly payment will be.

You must be at least 60 years old to receive widow's or widower's benefits, or 50 if you are disabled. There is no age requirement if you are caring for your spouse's child who is under 16 or disabled.

Key Takeaways

  • Widow and widower benefits are based on your deceased spouse's Social Security earnings record, not your own work history.
  • You can start receiving benefits at 60, at 50 if disabled, or at any age if caring for a child under 16 or a disabled child.
  • Your monthly payment is a percentage of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount, and the percentage depends on your age and circumstances.
  • If you worked and earned your own Social Security benefit, you may be able to choose which benefit to receive or receive a combination of both.
  • Remarriage before age 60 (or 50 if disabled) ends your widow's or widower's benefits, though some remarriages after that age do not.

How the payment amount is calculated

Social Security starts by calculating what your spouse's full retirement age benefit would have been. This is their Primary Insurance Amount, based on their 35 highest-earning years of work. From that amount, Social Security pays you a percentage depending on your age and situation.

If you are a widow or widower at full retirement age (which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year), you receive 100 percent of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount. If you are 60 years old, you receive about 71 to 72 percent of that amount. The exact percentage varies slightly by birth year. If you are 50 and disabled, you receive about 71 percent.

If you are caring for your spouse's child who is under 16, you can receive 75 percent of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount regardless of your age. Each child under 16 in your care can also receive 75 percent. There is a family maximum: the total amount paid to all family members cannot exceed 150 to 180 percent of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount, though the exact cap varies by case.

If you have your own Social Security work record, Social Security will calculate both your own retirement benefit and your widow's benefit. You then receive the higher of the two, or in some cases a combination. The rules for combining benefits depend on your birth year and when you claim.

When you can start receiving widow's or widower's benefits

You can claim widow's or widower's benefits as early as age 60. The earlier you claim, the lower your monthly payment will be. If you wait until your full retirement age, you receive the full amount your spouse's record entitles you to.

If you are disabled, you can claim at age 50. Disability must be the same kind Social Security recognizes for its disability program: a condition expected to last at least 12 months or result in death, and severe enough to prevent substantial work.

If you are caring for your spouse's child who is under 16 or disabled, you can claim at any age. The child must be your spouse's biological child, adopted child, or stepchild (in some cases). Once the youngest child turns 16, your benefits stop unless you are 60 or older, disabled, or caring for another may be able to access child.

You do not have to claim when ready after your spouse dies. You can wait and claim later, which will increase your monthly payment. However, you cannot claim widow's or widower's benefits before your spouse's death is reported to Social Security, and you cannot receive benefits for any month before you file.

Remarriage and how it affects your benefits

If you remarry before age 60, your widow's or widower's benefits stop. If you remarry at 60 or older, your benefits continue. If you remarry between 50 and 60 and are disabled, your benefits stop, but they can restart if that marriage ends.

If you remarry and your new spouse also receives Social Security benefits, your household will receive two separate benefit payments. Remarriage does not affect your new spouse's benefits or your ability to receive your own retirement benefit if you have one.

If you are caring for a child under 16 when you remarry, your benefits as a caregiver stop, but the child's benefits continue. The child can receive benefits on either parent's record, or on both if both parents are deceased or disabled.

Widow's benefits if you also worked and earned your own benefit

If you worked long enough to earn your own Social Security retirement benefit, you have options. Social Security will calculate both your own benefit and your widow's benefit based on your spouse's record. You then receive one of these payments or a combination, depending on your birth year and when you claim.

If you were born before January 2, 1954, you may be able to claim your widow's benefit first and delay your own benefit to grow larger. If you were born on or after that date, you must claim both benefits at the same time, and Social Security will pay you the higher of the two amounts.

Your own benefit amount depends on your earnings history and your age when you claim. If you have a very high earnings record, your own benefit might be larger than your widow's benefit. If you have a low earnings record, the widow's benefit might be larger. Social Security will pay whichever is higher.

How to report your spouse's death and start the process

You must report your spouse's death to Social Security before you can receive widow's or widower's benefits. You can do this by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, visiting a local Social Security office, or submitting a report online through your Social Security account at ssa.gov.

You will need your spouse's Social Security number, your own Social Security number, and a copy of the death certificate. Social Security can usually obtain the death certificate from state vital records if you provide the date and place of death, but you can also provide a certified copy yourself.

After you report the death, Social Security will send you information about widow's and widower's benefits and how to claim them. You can claim by phone, in person at a local office, or online if you have a my Social Security account. The process usually takes a few weeks to a few months from the time you file until your first payment arrives.

What happens to your benefits if you return to work

If you receive widow's or widower's benefits before your full retirement age and you earn income from work, Social Security may reduce your benefits. In 2024, Social Security reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above $23,400 per 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.

If you are caring for a child under 16, the earnings limit does not explore to you. You can work and receive your full caregiver benefit.

If you return to work and earn enough to have a higher Social Security benefit based on your own record, you can request that Social Security recalculate your benefit. This sometimes results in a higher payment, though it depends on your specific earnings history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive widow's benefits if my spouse and I were divorced?

Yes, if your marriage lasted at least 10 years. You can receive benefits on your ex-spouse's record even if they have remarried, and even if they are still living (if they are at least 62). The rules are the same as for widow's benefits: you must be at least 60, or 50 if disabled, or any age if caring for a child under 16.

What if my spouse did not work long enough to receive Social Security?

Your spouse must have earned at least 40 Social Security credits (roughly 10 years of work) for you to receive widow's or widower's benefits. If they did not work that long, you cannot receive benefits on their record. You can only receive benefits on your own work record if you have one.

Do widow's benefits count as income for other programs like Medicaid or SSI?

Yes. Widow's and widower's benefits are counted as income when determining whether you are may be able to access for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid. The amount may reduce your SSI payment or affect your Medicaid status, depending on your state and other income. Contact your state Medicaid office or local Social Security office to understand how your specific benefits will be treated.

Can my children receive benefits on my deceased spouse's record?

Yes. Each of your spouse's unmarried children under 19 (or up to 23 if in high school full-time) can receive 75 percent of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount. Disabled adult children can receive benefits at any age if the disability began before age 22. These benefits are separate from your widow's benefit and do not reduce it.

What if I claimed widow's benefits early and now want to increase my payment?

If you claimed before your full retirement age, you cannot increase your payment by waiting longer. However, you may be able to suspend your benefits at full retirement age and restart them later at a higher amount, depending on your birth year. Contact Social Security to discuss your options, as the rules vary by when you were born.