What Happens When Your Spouse Dies With Social Security?

When a spouse dies, understanding the implications for Social Security benefits is important. Social Security offers survivor benefits to provide financial support to eligible family members. This article guides individuals through the steps and factors involved in navigating Social Security benefits after a spouse’s death, from initial notification to ongoing benefit management.

Notifying Social Security of a Death

The initial step after a spouse’s death involves notifying the Social Security Administration (SSA) promptly. Funeral homes often assist with this process by electronically submitting the deceased’s Social Security number to the SSA. If a funeral home does not provide this service, a family member or representative should contact the SSA directly.

Timely notification prevents overpayments and ensures the deceased’s benefits cease. Social Security benefits are paid for the full month prior to death. Any payment received for the month of death must be returned to the SSA. If benefits were received via direct deposit, the financial institution should be notified immediately to return payments received after the date of death.

Eligibility for Survivor Benefits

Eligibility for Social Security survivor benefits depends on the deceased worker’s work history and the survivor’s relationship to the deceased. The deceased must generally have earned enough Social Security credits through employment, typically 40 credits or 10 years of work, to be fully insured. A special rule allows benefits if the worker earned at least 1.5 years of work credits in the three years immediately preceding their death.

Spouses are commonly eligible for survivor benefits. A surviving spouse can begin receiving benefits as early as age 60, or age 50 if they have a disability. To qualify, the marriage must have lasted for at least nine months. A surviving spouse caring for the deceased’s child who is under age 16 or has a disability may be eligible for benefits at any age. Divorced spouses may also qualify if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and they meet other criteria, such as not remarrying before age 60 (or 50 if disabled).

Children of the deceased worker may also be eligible for benefits. This includes unmarried children under age 18, or up to age 19 if they are full-time students in elementary or secondary school. Children of any age can receive benefits if they developed a disability before age 22 and continue to meet the SSA’s definition of disability. Stepchildren, adopted children, grandchildren, and step-grandchildren may qualify in certain situations.

Dependent parents of the deceased worker can receive benefits if they are age 62 or older and were financially supported by the deceased for at least half of their income. The amount of survivor benefits received by eligible family members is based on the deceased worker’s earnings record.

Required Information for Application

Before applying for Social Security survivor benefits, gathering specific documents and information is necessary to streamline the process. This includes the deceased spouse’s Social Security number and the applicant’s own Social Security number. These numbers help the SSA locate and verify earnings records.

Proof of death, such as a death certificate or a statement from a funeral home, is also required. This document confirms the date of death, which is important for establishing eligibility. The applicant will need their birth certificate to verify their age and identity. For a surviving spouse, a marriage certificate is essential to prove the marital relationship to the deceased.

If there are dependent children, their birth certificates and Social Security numbers should be provided. The deceased spouse’s W-2 forms or federal self-employment tax returns for the most recent year are needed to confirm their earnings and work credits. Finally, bank account information, including the bank name and account number, is necessary for setting up direct deposit of benefits. Applicants should not delay applying even if they lack some information, as the SSA can assist in obtaining missing records.

The Application Process

Once all necessary information and documents have been gathered, the application for Social Security survivor benefits can be initiated. Unlike some other Social Security benefits, survivor benefits cannot be applied for entirely online in most cases. The primary methods for application are by phone or in person at a Social Security office.

To apply by phone, individuals can call the SSA’s national toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, available Monday through Friday during business hours. For those preferring an in-person application, it is advisable to call ahead and schedule an appointment at a local Social Security office to minimize wait times. During the application interview, a representative will ask questions to confirm eligibility and gather detailed information.

After the application is submitted, the SSA begins processing the claim. Processing time for survivor benefits ranges from 30 to 60 days, but may take longer if additional documentation is required. Once approved, benefits are paid retroactively from the eligibility date. Applicants will receive an award letter notifying them of the decision and the benefit amount.

Other Considerations for Benefits

After survivor benefits are approved, several factors can influence the ongoing receipt and amount of these payments. If a beneficiary works while receiving survivor benefits, their earnings can affect the benefit amount. For individuals under their full retirement age, an annual earnings limit applies. In 2025, if earnings exceed $23,400, $1 in benefits will be withheld for every $2 earned above this limit. In the year a beneficiary reaches full retirement age, the limit is higher, with $1 in benefits withheld for every $3 earned above $62,160 in 2025. These earnings limits no longer apply once the beneficiary reaches their full retirement age.

Remarriage can also impact survivor benefits for a widow or widower. If remarriage occurs after age 60 (or after age 50 if disabled), it does not affect eligibility for survivor benefits on the deceased spouse’s record. If remarriage happens before age 60 (or age 50 if disabled), eligibility for survivor benefits from the deceased spouse’s record is lost. If this subsequent marriage ends due to death, divorce, or annulment, eligibility for the prior survivor benefits may be reinstated.

Social Security benefits, including survivor benefits, may be subject to federal income tax depending on the recipient’s total income. For 2025, if a single filer’s combined income (adjusted gross income plus non-taxable interest plus one-half of Social Security benefits) is between $25,000 and $34,000, up to 50% of benefits may be taxed. For combined incomes above $34,000, up to 85% of benefits may be taxed. For those filing jointly, the thresholds are $32,000 to $44,000 for up to 50% taxation and above $44,000 for up to 85% taxation. Some states also tax Social Security benefits.

Coordination with other government pensions can also affect survivor benefits. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) can reduce Social Security spouse or widow(er) benefits if the beneficiary receives a pension from federal, state, or local government employment not covered by Social Security. Under GPO, Social Security benefits may be reduced by two-thirds of the amount of the non-covered government pension. The Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, enacted in January 2025, eliminated the reduction of Social Security benefits by GPO for individuals entitled to certain pensions from non-covered work.