How Long Can a Widow Receive Survivor Benefits?

Social Security survivor benefits provide financial support to eligible family members of a deceased worker who contributed to the system through payroll taxes. For widows, these benefits can be a significant source of income after the loss of a spouse. This article explains the factors that determine the duration of Social Security survivor benefits for widows.

General Rules for Widow’s Benefits Duration

Survivor benefits for widows generally continue for their lifetime once eligibility is established. A widow can begin receiving these benefits as early as age 60. Claiming benefits before their full retirement age (FRA) results in a permanent reduction in the monthly benefit amount. For instance, claiming at age 60 can lead to a benefit as low as 71.5% of the deceased spouse’s primary insurance amount (PIA).

The full retirement age for survivor benefits varies depending on the widow’s birth year. For those born in 1960 or later, the full retirement age for survivor benefits is 67. If a widow waits until their full retirement age to claim benefits, they can receive 100% of the deceased spouse’s full benefit amount.

Social Security pays the higher of a widow’s own retirement benefit or their survivor benefit; they do not receive both. If a widow is eligible for benefits based on their own work record, the Social Security Administration will automatically provide the larger of the two amounts. This ensures the widow receives the maximum possible benefit.

Receiving Benefits While Caring for Children

A widow caring for a deceased worker’s child can collect “child-in-care” benefits at any age, provided they have not remarried. These benefits are for a widow caring for the deceased worker’s natural or adopted child who is under age 16 or has a disability. The benefit amount for the widow is 75% of the deceased spouse’s basic benefit.

The duration of child-in-care benefits is tied to the child’s age. The widow’s benefits stop once the youngest child in their care reaches age 16. However, if the child has a qualifying disability that began before age 22, the widow’s benefits may continue as long as they provide ongoing care for that child.

Children can also receive survivor benefits, generally until they turn 18, or up to age 19 if they are full-time elementary or secondary school students. If a child has a disability that began before age 22, their benefits can continue indefinitely as long as the disability meets Social Security’s definition. The total benefits payable to a family are subject to a “family maximum,” which typically ranges from 150% to 180% of the deceased worker’s full benefit amount. If individual benefits exceed this limit, each dependent’s benefit may be proportionally reduced.

Effects of Remarriage and Earnings on Duration

Remarriage can impact Social Security survivor benefits, depending on the widow’s age at the time of remarriage. If a widow remarries before reaching age 60, their eligibility for survivor benefits generally ceases. This rule is in place unless that subsequent marriage ends due to divorce, annulment, or death, in which case eligibility for benefits on the former spouse’s record may be re-established.

If a widow remarries after attaining age 60, their survivor benefits on the deceased spouse’s record are not affected. This provision allows older widows to remarry without losing a crucial source of income.

A widow’s own earned income can affect the amount of benefits received, especially if they are under their full retirement age. This is due to the Social Security “annual earnings test.” For 2025, if a widow is under their full retirement age for the entire year, $1 in benefits is withheld for every $2 earned above an annual limit of $23,400. This reduction can lead to a temporary cessation of benefits if earnings are substantial.

In the year a widow reaches their full retirement age, a higher earnings limit applies, set at $62,160 for 2025. In this year, $1 in benefits is withheld for every $3 earned above this limit, but only earnings before the month the widow reaches their full retirement age count toward the test. Once a widow reaches their full retirement age, the earnings limit no longer applies, and they can earn any amount of income without their Social Security survivor benefits being reduced.

Benefits for Disabled Widows

Disabled widows can receive survivor benefits at an earlier age. A widow can qualify for disabled widow’s benefits as early as age 50. To be eligible, the disability must meet Social Security’s definition and have started within seven years of the deceased spouse’s death. This seven-year period begins from the later of the worker’s death or the date the widow last received child-in-care benefits.

These benefits continue as long as the widow meets the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability, which means being unable to engage in substantial gainful activity due to a severe mental or physical impairment. The monthly benefit amount for a disabled widow claiming between ages 50 and 59 is 71.5% of the deceased spouse’s primary insurance amount. This percentage is fixed and does not increase by delaying claiming within this age range.

Upon reaching their full retirement age, a disabled widow’s benefits may convert to regular aged widow’s benefits. The entitlement to benefits generally continues, and the benefit amount may adjust to 100% of the deceased spouse’s PIA if they have reached their full retirement age. The rules for disabled widows provide a safety net for those who experience the dual challenges of spousal loss and disability.