Social Security Survivor Benefits

June 8, 2023 by Laura Amendola, CFP®, Co-Active® Coach

The loss of the family wage earner can be devastating, both emotionally and financially. Knowing what you can receive as a survivor’s benefit is the first step in getting your financial needs in order.

From a widow’s perspective, it is important to know you may be eligible to survivor’s benefits available for yourself, your children, and his parents, if they were dependent on him.

How much can I receive?
The survivor benefit amount is based on your husband’s earnings. The more he paid into Social Security, the greater your benefits will be. Social Security uses his basic benefit amount and calculates what percentage his survivors are entitled to. The percentage depends on the survivors’ ages and relationship to him. If your husband was receiving reduced benefits, the survivor’s benefit is based on that reduced amount.

Here are the most typical situations:

• A widow, at full retirement age or older (age 66 for those born in 1945-1956 and gradually increased to age 67 for those born in 1962 or later), generally receives 100% of her husband’s basic benefit amount;
• A widow, age 60 or older, but under full retirement age, receives about 71-99% of her husband’s basic benefit amount; for a disabled widow, benefits can begin as early as age 50.
• A widow, any age, with a child younger than age 16, receives 75% of the worker’s benefit amount.
• Children also receive 75% of their father’s benefit amount. This includes children who are younger than age 18 (or up to age 19 if they are attending elementary or secondary school full time). Your children can get benefits at any age if they were disabled before age 22 and remain disabled. Under certain circumstances, benefits also can be paid to stepchildren, grandchildren, step-grandchildren or adopted children.
• Maximum family benefits: there is a limit to the benefits that can be paid to you and other family members each month. The limit varies, but is generally between 150-180 % of your husband’s benefit amount.

What could happen if I ever remarry?
By far, this is the most common misconception I hear – so let’s help get the correct information out there:

1. Generally, you cannot get widow’s benefits if you remarry before age 60.
2. But, remarriage after age 60 (or age 50 if you are disabled) will not prevent you from getting benefit payments based on your former husband’s work.
3. And, at age 62 or older, you may get benefits based on your new spouse’s work, if those benefits would be higher.

What if I’m already receiving Social Security benefits?
If you are currently receiving benefits as a wife based on your husband’s work record (a spouse’s benefit is half the amount of your husband’s benefit), when you report the death, Social Security will change your payments to a survivor’s benefit.

If you are receiving benefits currently based on your own work record, social security will check to see if you are eligible to receive a higher benefit as a widow. If so, you will receive a combination of benefits that equals the higher amount. (Note: widows often mistakenly think they will receive both amounts and not a combination of the two.) An application must be completed to switch to the survivor’s benefit.

I was expecting a higher amount what happened?
Your husband may have been receiving a pension from his work not covered by Social Security.

If your husband received a pension from his work that was not covered by Social Security— for example, the federal civil service, some state or local government employment or work in a foreign country—his Social Security benefit may have been reduced. For more information, ask for Government Pension Offset (Publication No. 05-10007), for government workers who may be eligible for Social Security benefits on the earnings record of a spouse; and Windfall Elimination Provision (Publication No. 05-10045), for people who worked in another country or government workers who also are eligible for their own Social Security benefits.

What if I work?
If you work while getting Social Security survivors benefits and are younger than full retirement age, your benefits may be reduced if your earnings exceed certain limits. (Reminder: Full retirement age was 65 for people born before 1938, but will gradually increase to 67 for people born in 1960 or later.)

To find out what the earnings limits are this year (example: $15,720 for 2015) and how earnings above those limits reduce your Social Security benefits, ask for How Work Affects Your Benefits (Publication No. 05-10069). There is no earnings limit beginning with the month you reach full retirement age. (Note: Your earnings will reduce only your benefits, not the benefits of other family members!)

What is the one-time death payment?
As a widow, you must apply for this payment within two years of your husband’s date of death. It is a one-time, lump-sum payment of $255 that can be made if your husband worked long enough. This payment can be made only to the widow (or a child) if they meet certain requirements.