Do You Get Social Security If Your Spouse Dies?
Understand your Social Security survivor benefit eligibility. This guide clarifies how benefits are determined and the steps to apply after a spouse's death.
Social Security provides survivor benefits to certain family members of a worker who has passed away. A deceased worker must have earned sufficient Social Security credits for their family members to qualify. This article explains eligibility, benefit calculation, application process, and how remarriage affects benefits.
Eligibility for Social Security Survivor Benefits
Surviving spouses are eligible for benefits if they are age 60 or older, or age 50 or older if disabled. A surviving spouse may also qualify at any age if caring for the deceased worker’s child who is under age 16 or disabled. The marriage must have lasted at least nine months, though exceptions exist for accidental death or military service-related deaths.
Divorced spouses can also receive survivor benefits under specific conditions. The marriage must have lasted for at least 10 years, and the divorced spouse must be currently unmarried. They must be age 60 or older, or age 50 if disabled. Eligibility for a divorced spouse does not reduce benefits paid to other survivors.
Unmarried children of the deceased worker may be eligible for benefits if they are under age 18, or under age 19 if still attending high school full-time. Children disabled before age 22 can receive benefits at any age, as long as they remain unmarried. This includes biological children, adopted children, and, in some cases, stepchildren or grandchildren.
Dependent parents can receive survivor benefits if they were receiving at least one-half of their support from the deceased worker. The parent must be age 62 or older and must not have remarried since the worker’s death.
Calculating Social Security Survivor Benefits
The amount of Social Security survivor benefits is based on the deceased worker’s Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). The PIA represents the full retirement benefit the worker was entitled to at their full retirement age. This amount is calculated from the worker’s average indexed monthly earnings over their lifetime.
The survivor’s age at claiming benefits impacts the percentage of the deceased worker’s PIA they receive. A surviving spouse who claims benefits at their full retirement age will receive 100% of the deceased worker’s PIA. If benefits are claimed earlier, such as at age 60, the amount will be reduced, similar to early retirement benefits.
There is a maximum family benefit limit, which caps the total amount of benefits that can be paid to a family based on one worker’s earnings record. This limit ranges from 150% to 180% of the deceased worker’s PIA. If the sum of individual survivor benefits exceeds this maximum, each individual benefit is proportionally reduced until the total falls within the limit.
An individual may be eligible for both their own Social Security retirement or disability benefits and survivor benefits. In such cases, the Social Security Administration will pay the higher of the two benefit amounts.
Applying for Social Security Survivor Benefits
To apply for Social Security survivor benefits, several documents and pieces of information are required. You will need the deceased worker’s Social Security number and death certificate. Your own birth certificate and marriage certificate, if applicable, are also necessary.
Providing bank account information for direct deposit is important, along with the deceased worker’s W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns for the previous year. Having these documents prepared can help expedite the application process.
Applications for survivor benefits can be submitted in several ways. You can apply online for certain types of benefits, such as a surviving spouse’s or child’s benefits. Alternatively, you may apply by calling the Social Security Administration’s toll-free number or by visiting a local Social Security office.
After submitting your application, the Social Security Administration will review your information and verify eligibility. Processing times can vary, but applicants receive a decision within a few weeks to a few months. The Social Security Administration may contact you for additional information if needed during this period.
Impact of Remarriage on Survivor Benefits
Remarriage can affect a surviving spouse’s or divorced spouse’s eligibility for Social Security survivor benefits, depending on the age at which the remarriage occurs. If a surviving spouse remarries after reaching age 60, or age 50 if disabled, their eligibility for survivor benefits remains unaffected.
However, if a surviving spouse remarries before age 60, or age 50 if disabled, their entitlement to survivor benefits terminates. There are specific exceptions, such as if the subsequent marriage ends due to death, divorce, or annulment. In such cases, the individual may regain eligibility for benefits on the first spouse’s record.
A divorced spouse’s survivor benefits are also affected by remarriage. If a divorced spouse remarries before age 60, or age 50 if disabled, their benefits on the former spouse’s record will cease. Remarrying after these ages does not impact their eligibility for survivor benefits from the former spouse.
If a person remarries and becomes eligible for spousal benefits on their new spouse’s Social Security record, they may choose which benefit to receive. Once they reach the appropriate age, they can claim the higher of the two benefit amounts, whether it is the survivor benefit from their deceased spouse or the spousal benefit from their new spouse.