Social Security survivor benefits provide financial assistance to surviving spouses and family members, offering a range of benefits, including monthly payments and lump sum benefits. It can make a huge difference in maintaining financial stability when dealing with the loss of a loved one.
Keep reading to learn who qualifies for survivor benefits, how much you can expect to receive, the application process, and how these benefits compare to life insurance options.
Who Can Receive Survivor Benefits and When
Your age, whether you're married, and if you have any disabilities all affect eligibility for benefits and when you can start receiving them.
Spouses and Ex-Spouses
Let's look at the basic requirements for survivor benefits if you’re married now or were in the past:
One exception to these survivor benefit qualifications exists: if you're caring for a child of the person who died, you might qualify regardless of how long you were married or how old you are.
When Children Can Receive Survivor Benefits
A child whose parent died might qualify if they're not married, and they're:
- Age 17 and younger.
- Between 18–19 and enrolled in school (K–12) full time.
- Any age if they developed a disability at 21 or younger.
Married children, stepchildren, adopted children, grandchildren, and stepgrandchildren may also qualify under certain circumstances.
Adult Children with Disabilities
Adult children who became disabled before their 22nd birthday might qualify if their parent has passed away. It's a safety net that recognizes some folks need ongoing support well into adulthood.
Parents Who Depended on Their Child
If you're 62 or older and your child who died was helping support you financially, you might qualify, too. Nobody wants to think about losing a child, but it's good to know help is available.
How Much You Could Get in Survivor Benefits
What you can receive after a spouse passes away depends on how much the family member who died worked and earned. Plus, if you're 65 or older, or you have a disability or serious kidney disease, you might also get Medicare coverage based on their work record.
To find out exactly what you'd get, call the Social Security office at 1-800-772-1213. You'll need the Social Security number of the deceased person. If you don't have that, you’ll need to provide other details, such as their birth date and their parents' names.
What Spouses and Divorced Spouses Can Get
Timing matters here. For spouses and former spouses, your payments begin at about 71% of what your spouse was getting, but they go up the longer you wait to start collecting. Here's how it breaks down:
- Over 75% at age 61.
- Over 80% at age 63.
- Over 90% at age 65.
- Up to 100% at your “Full Retirement Age for Survivor benefits” (between ages 66–67).
For example, let’s say your spouse was getting $2,000 every month from Social Security. If you start getting survivor payments at 61, you'd receive about $1,500 monthly. Wait until 65, and you're looking at roughly $1,800. Once you reach your full retirement age, you get the entire $2,000.
What Children Get
Children typically receive 75% of what the parent was receiving. But survivor benefits have something called a "family maximum.” This cap limits the total amount one family can receive overall. If that cap applies, your payment might be reduced. The good news is that former spouses don’t count toward the limit.
Handling Multiple Types of Benefits
If you qualify for survivor payments and another kind of Social Security benefit, you can't get both. You'll pick one — the Social Security Administration (SSA) won't combine them.
But here's the clever part: you can change your mind later. For instance, you might start with survivor benefit payments and then switch to your retirement benefits at age 70 when that amount reaches its highest point.
A One-Time Lump-Sum Death Payment
Spouses or some young children might get a single payment of $255 when someone dies. Although it's not a substantial amount, it can help cover some immediate expenses. We'll go into more detail about this in a moment.
How to Apply for Social Security Survivor Benefits
If you're already getting family benefits, you usually don't need to apply for survivor benefits. Your benefit type and amount are automatically updated, which is one less headache to deal with.
For everyone else, applying can feel pretty overwhelming, but the Social Security office is there to guide you through it.
- Call 1-800-772-1213 to request an appointment to apply for survivor benefits.
- Provide required documentation, such as proof of marriage and the deceased’s Social Security number.
When scheduling, the SSA will let you know if your appointment can be conducted over the phone or in person.
What You'll Need to Apply
Social Security’s checklist of information they need is quite long, and it's smart to start collecting these documents before your appointment. We’ve simplified the required documents in the following list:
- Your Social Security number.
- Where you were born (city, state, country).
- Jobs you've had in the past 5 years.
- When and where you got married (current or past marriages).
- Your spouse's or former spouse's Social Security number and date of birth.
- Your bank's routing number and account number for direct deposits.
- Names of any children who might qualify.
The One-Time Lump Sum Payment
Surviving spouses might qualify for a one-time $255 death payment from Social Security. If there's no spouse, it may go to a child instead — but only in certain cases. Most kids must be 17 or younger to qualify, though full-time high school students can be covered up to age 19. A disabled child may qualify up to age 22.
Even a spouse who lives somewhere else might qualify if they can get benefits based on the deceased person's work record.
Just remember: you must apply for this money within two years of the family member's death, or you'll miss out completely.
Survivor Benefit Plan vs. Life Insurance: What's the Difference?
There are several different ways to provide financial protection for your family, including the military's Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and regular life insurance policies. Note that SBP coverage is completely different from Social Security survivor benefits.
- The SBP is specifically for military families and provides monthly payments to your spouse or children after you die.
- Life insurance pays your family a lump sum of money all at once, and you can adjust your coverage as your needs change over time.
For many military families, having both types of protection makes excellent sense. The SBP provides monthly income, while life insurance handles immediate expenses and offers additional financial security.
Each option has its advantages and drawbacks, and you'll want to think carefully about your needs and situation before making a decision. Working with a financial advisor who understands military benefits can help you determine the best combination for your family's situation.
FAQ
When a Spouse Dies, How Much Social Security Does the Survivor Get?
The amount of survivor benefits you get through Social Security depends on when you start collecting and your spouse's benefit amount. You can receive anywhere from about 71% to 100% of the benefit amount.
When Can I Collect My Deceased Ex-Husband's Social Security?
If your ex-husband passes away, you can get help from survivor benefits from Social Security at age 60, or age 50 if you're disabled. You must have been married for at least 10 years and can't have remarried before age 60. The benefit amount follows the same rules as current spouses, starting at around 71% and increasing to 100%.
Is Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Better Than Life Insurance?
The Survivor Benefit Plan and life insurance aren’t interchangeable, and one isn’t automatically better since they serve different purposes. The military's SBP provides your family monthly payments that last for life, while life insurance provides a large lump sum of money all at once that your family can use however they choose. In some cases, having both can offer more security.
Content in the Customer Resource Center is for informational purposes only, and you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.