Can You Draw Widow’s Benefits and Social Security?

Social Security is a federal program providing financial protection to millions of Americans. It offers various types of benefits, including those based on an individual’s own work history and those provided to family members of a deceased worker. Understanding how these distinct benefit types operate and interact is important for individuals navigating their financial futures. This article clarifies the rules for Social Security survivor benefits and an individual’s own retirement benefits, particularly when someone may be eligible for both.

Understanding Survivor Benefits

Survivor benefits provide financial support to eligible family members after a worker’s death. These benefits help replace a portion of the deceased worker’s earnings. Eligibility often extends to a deceased worker’s spouse, divorced spouse, and dependent children.

For a surviving spouse, eligibility begins at age 60, or age 50 if they are disabled. A spouse caring for the deceased’s child under age 16 or a child with a disability may be eligible at any age. Divorced spouses can also qualify if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and they meet age or disability criteria, provided they have not remarried before certain ages.

Children can receive benefits if they are unmarried and under 18, or up to 19 if still in elementary or secondary school full-time. Benefits may also extend to adult children of any age if they have a disability that began before age 22. The deceased worker must have accumulated sufficient Social Security work credits, which varies based on their age at death, but can be as few as six credits for younger workers.

The amount of survivor benefits is generally calculated as a percentage of the deceased worker’s Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is their basic Social Security benefit. For instance, a surviving spouse at their full retirement age can receive 100% of the deceased’s benefit. Claiming benefits before the survivor’s full retirement age can lead to a reduced monthly amount, ranging from 71.5% to 99% of the deceased’s PIA.

Understanding Your Own Social Security Retirement Benefits

An individual’s own Social Security retirement benefits are based on their personal earnings record throughout their working life. These benefits aim to replace a portion of pre-retirement income. Eligibility for these benefits requires accumulating sufficient work credits and reaching a minimum claiming age.

To qualify for retirement benefits, most individuals need 40 work credits, which translates to 10 years of work where Social Security taxes were paid. You can earn up to four credits each year. The earliest age an individual can begin receiving retirement benefits is age 62, though this results in a permanently reduced monthly amount.

Your basic benefit amount, the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), is calculated using your highest 35 years of indexed earnings, which are adjusted for changes in average wages over time.

Full Retirement Age (FRA) is the age at which you are entitled to receive 100% of your PIA. For those born in 1960 or later, FRA is age 67. Claiming benefits before your FRA results in a reduced monthly payment, while delaying beyond FRA, up to age 70, can increase your monthly benefit through delayed retirement credits.

Coordination Rules for Multiple Benefits

When an individual is eligible for both their own Social Security retirement benefits and survivor benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) applies specific coordination rules. It is not possible to receive two separate, full Social Security checks simultaneously. Instead, the SSA will pay an amount equivalent to the higher of the two benefits for which the individual is eligible.

This coordination is governed by the “deemed filing” rule. When an individual applies for one type of benefit, such as their own retirement benefit, they are often considered by the SSA to have also applied for any other benefits they might be eligible for, including spousal or survivor benefits. The SSA then automatically provides the higher of the two applicable benefit amounts.

For example, if a widow is eligible for $1,200 per month based on her deceased spouse’s record and $1,000 per month based on her own work record, the SSA will typically pay her the $1,200 survivor benefit. If her own retirement benefit were $1,500 and the survivor benefit $1,200, she would receive the $1,500 based on her own record.

There are limited exceptions to the deemed filing rule, primarily for those born before January 2, 1954. Individuals in this age group may have had the option to file a “restricted application,” allowing them to claim one type of benefit (e.g., spousal benefits) while delaying their own retirement benefits to accrue delayed retirement credits. However, for most current claimants, the deemed filing rule applies, meaning that applying for one benefit triggers an application for all benefits, and the higher amount is paid.

Impact of Claiming Age on Benefits

The age at which an individual chooses to claim either their own retirement benefits or survivor benefits significantly impacts the monthly amount received. For personal retirement benefits, claiming before your Full Retirement Age (FRA) leads to a permanent reduction. For instance, claiming at age 62, the earliest eligibility age, can result in a reduction of approximately 30% compared to your FRA benefit.

Conversely, delaying the claim for your own retirement benefits beyond your FRA, up to age 70, results in an increase due to delayed retirement credits. These credits can add about 8% per year to your benefit amount for each year you delay, increasing your monthly payment.

For survivor benefits, claiming early also results in reductions. A surviving spouse can claim benefits as early as age 60, or age 50 if disabled, but the monthly payment will be reduced. The full survivor benefit is generally received if claimed at the survivor’s own full retirement age for survivor benefits, which may differ from the FRA for their own retirement benefits. For example, claiming at age 60 might yield 71.5% of the deceased’s PIA, while waiting until the survivor’s FRA for survivor benefits can result in 100%.

These age-based adjustments for each benefit type directly influence the outcome of the “higher of the two” rule. An early claim on one benefit, even if it might initially seem appealing, could reduce its value to a point where the other benefit becomes higher. Careful consideration of claiming age for both benefit types is important to understand the final monthly amount received.

Applying for Social Security Benefits

Applying for Social Security benefits involves a process once eligibility is determined. You can apply for benefits in several ways: online through the Social Security Administration (SSA) website, by phone, or in person at a local Social Security office.

When applying, certain documents and information are required to verify your identity, eligibility, and work history. This commonly includes your Social Security number, your birth certificate (original or certified copy), and proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status. For survivor benefits, you will also need the deceased worker’s Social Security number, their death certificate, and often a marriage certificate or divorce decree, if applicable.

You should also be prepared to provide information about your employment history, including W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns from the previous year. Bank account and routing numbers are necessary for direct deposit of benefits. While it is best to have all documents ready, you should still apply even if some are missing, as the SSA can assist in obtaining necessary records or allow you to submit them later.

After submitting your application, the SSA will review your information and may request additional details if needed. You will receive a confirmation of your application, and the SSA will notify you of their decision regarding your eligibility and benefit amount. The processing time can vary, but the SSA will communicate the outcome of your claim.