Your father died last month. Your mother, 68, has been getting her own Social Security retirement check for years, and she's not sure whether she can now get his higher benefit instead. She's overwhelmed by paperwork and worried about paying the bills alone.
Social Security survivor benefits are often an important source of income after a death. Here's how they work, in plain language.
What survivor benefits are
When a worker who paid into Social Security dies, certain family members may be able to get monthly benefits based on the worker's earnings record1. The worker must have earned enough Social Security credits, though the number needed depends on age at death, and young workers need fewer. Survivor benefits are separate from the worker's own retirement benefits, though a survivor who has their own benefit can't simply collect both in full.
If you're handling everything that comes after a death, our guide to what to do when a parent dies lays out the first steps, including notifying Social Security.
Who can get survivor benefits
| Survivor | Basic rules |
|---|---|
| Widow or widower | Full benefits at full retirement age; reduced benefits from age 60; from 50 if disabled |
| Widow or widower caring for a child | Any age, if caring for the deceased's child under 16 or disabled |
| Divorced spouse | Same as widow or widower if the marriage lasted 10 years or more |
| Children | Unmarried, under 18, or up to 19 if a full-time student in elementary or high school, or disabled before 22 |
| Dependent parents | Age 62 or older who got at least half their support from the deceased |
These rules come from Social Security's survivors publication1. There are details and exceptions, so check your family's situation with Social Security.
Benefits for widows and widowers
A widow or widower can get full survivor benefits at full retirement age, or reduced benefits as early as age 601. A disabled widow or widower can start as early as 501. A widow or widower of any age who cares for the deceased's child who is under 16 or disabled can also get benefits1.
Generally, the marriage must have lasted at least nine months before the death, though there are exceptions, such as an accidental death.1
How much survivors get
The amount depends on the deceased worker's earnings and the survivor's age. A widow or widower at full retirement age or older generally gets 100 percent of the deceased worker's benefit amount1. From age 60 to just under full retirement age, the benefit is 71 to 99 percent of the worker's basic amount1. A widow or widower of any age caring for a child under 16 gets 75 percent, and children generally get 75 percent1.
There is a family maximum. The total paid to a family is generally between 150 and 180 percent of the deceased worker's benefit amount1. If family benefits exceed it, each person's share is reduced proportionally. Your local Social Security office can tell you what each family member would receive.
If your parent has their own benefit
Many widows and widowers already get their own retirement benefit. Social Security pays the higher of the two, not both in full. If the survivor benefit is higher, the survivor generally gets the difference on top of their own. Some people have a choice about timing: for example, taking a reduced survivor benefit first and switching to their own retirement benefit later, or the reverse, if one would grow with waiting1. This decision can make a real difference over a lifetime, so ask Social Security to explain the options before your parent decides.
Choosing when to start
Starting survivor benefits before full retirement age means a permanently reduced amount1. Waiting until full retirement age gives the full amount. Unlike retirement benefits, survivor benefits don't grow past full retirement age, so there's usually no reason to wait longer. For someone who needs income now, starting early may still be the right choice. Health, other income and whether your parent is still working all matter.
If your parent is still working
If a survivor gets benefits before full retirement age and keeps working, the earnings test may temporarily reduce benefits if earnings exceed a yearly limit1. Benefits withheld aren't lost forever; Social Security recalculates the amount at full retirement age. Once the survivor reaches full retirement age, earnings no longer reduce benefits.
Remarriage
Remarrying after age 60, or after 50 if disabled, doesn't affect eligibility for survivor benefits1. Remarrying before 60 generally means your parent can't get survivor benefits while married1. If that later marriage ends, they may become eligible again. A widow or widower who remarries after 60 may also be able to get spouse benefits on the new spouse's record if that's higher.
Divorced spouses
A surviving divorced spouse can get benefits on the same basis as a widow or widower if the marriage lasted 10 years or more1. Benefits paid to a surviving divorced spouse don't reduce what other survivors on the record receive. If your parent was divorced from the deceased after a long marriage, it's worth asking.
How to apply
Report the death to Social Security as soon as possible. In most cases, the funeral home will report it if you give them the deceased's Social Security number1. Survivors generally can't apply online; apply by phone or at a local office1. Apply promptly, because in some cases benefits may be paid only from the month you apply rather than back to the date of death1.
If the deceased was getting Social Security, any payment received for the month of death or later generally must be returned. Social Security will explain how. If your parent will need help managing benefits, see Social Security representative payee.
Documents to gather
Social Security may ask for proof of death, your parent's and the deceased's Social Security numbers, your parent's birth certificate, marriage certificate (and divorce papers for a divorced spouse), the deceased's most recent W-2s or tax return if self-employed, and bank account information for direct deposit1. Don't delay applying if you don't have everything; Social Security can help get some records, and they need original or certified copies, which they return.
The one-time death payment
Social Security also pays a small one-time death payment to a surviving spouse who lived with the deceased, or in some cases to a spouse or child getting benefits on the record1. It must be applied for within two years of the death. Ask about it when you call, since it is easy to overlook in the weeks after a death.
Planning the budget after a death
Losing a spouse often means losing one Social Security check, even if the survivor gets the higher benefit. Many surviving spouses find their income drops while many costs stay the same. Review the budget and look at help your parent may qualify for, such as the Medicare Savings Program, Extra Help with Part D or SNAP for seniors. Our guide to managing an elderly parent's finances explains how to help without taking over.
Watch for scams
Scammers target new widows and widowers, sometimes posing as Social Security. Social Security won't threaten your parent, demand immediate payment, or ask for gift cards. If someone calls claiming to be from Social Security and asks for personal information, hang up and call Social Security directly. See when an elderly parent is scammed.
Medicare and health coverage after a death
Survivor benefits don't change your parent's Medicare, but a death often changes health coverage in other ways. If your parent was covered through the deceased spouse's employer or retiree plan, ask the plan administrator how long coverage lasts and what options exist. Losing that coverage can open a special enrollment period for Medicare or a drug plan, so your parent may be able to switch without a late penalty. Our guide to the Medicare late enrollment penalty explains why timing matters. If your parent's income drops, they may also newly qualify for help with premiums and drug costs.
Getting help
Social Security staff can explain your parent's options, but they don't give personal financial advice. For complex situations, such as a large gap in ages, a pension from work not covered by Social Security, or questions about taxes, a financial planner or an elder law attorney can help. Your local area agency on aging may offer free benefits counseling and can help your parent screen for other programs4. If you're helping from a distance, ask your parent to sign a consent form so Social Security can speak with you, or attend appointments together by phone. And remember that grief makes paperwork harder; see caregiver support groups for connecting with others going through the same thing.
An example
Linda was 67, at full retirement age, when her husband died. She had been getting her own retirement benefit, which was lower than his. The funeral home reported the death, and Linda called Social Security to apply. Because the survivor benefit was higher, she now gets an amount equal to his full benefit instead of her own. She also applied for the one-time death payment and set up direct deposit to the account she already used. This is an illustration; your parent's amounts and options depend on both work records.
