12 Critical Insights About Social Security's Survivor Benefit

When your spouse passes away, this can be a very trying and confusing time. Let’s make dealing with Social Security the least of your worries.

When a spouse passes, Social Security will be notified by the funeral home. You need to call (1-800-772-1213) or make an appointment with Social Security to see if you are eligible for the survivor’s benefit. You cannot file for this benefit online.
There is a $255 lump-sum death benefit available to the current spouse living with the deceased spouse at the time. You have 2 years from the date of death to apply for this benefit.
You must be alive the entire month to receive a check from Social Security. Social Security checks are paid a month behind. So, for example, the check you receive in March is for the month of February. If you pass away in March, you are not entitled to receive a payment for the month of March. If there is a Social Security bank deposit in April for the deceased, for the month of March, just leave that amount in the account and Social Security will withdraw that amount from the account. This deposit must be paid back.
To be eligible to collect a survivor benefit you must be a current spouse at least age 60, or age 50 if disabled, and married at least 9 months. Above is the same for an ex-spouse but needs to be married at least 10 years or more. If married to more than 1 ex-spouse for the required 10 years, you can claim survivor benefits on the higher earning spouse.
Survivor benefits are separate from spousal benefits. Spousal benefits are capped at 50% of your spouse’s full retirement age benefit and paid during lifetime. Survivor benefits are equal to 100% of what your spouse was receiving at the time of death, including delayed retirement credits and paid after death. If your deceased spouse has not filed for Social Security benefits and passes away before full retirement age, the surviving spouse is entitled to the deceased spouse’s full retirement age benefit. If the deceased spouse has not filed for benefits and passes away after full retirement age, the surviving spouse is eligible for what the deceased spouse would have received at the date of death. Remember, the surviving spouse’s benefit is reduced if filed for before their full retirement age. A child under 16 or a child disabled before age 22, may also be eligible to receive 75% of what the parent was receiving at the time of death, with no reduction.
If you are receiving a spousal benefit based on the deceased record, the spousal benefit will “auto convert” to a survivor benefit.
In simple terms, if both are receiving a Social Security benefit payment when one spouse passes away, the survivor will receive the higher of the two benefit amounts. The lower benefit amount goes away.
If you apply for survivor benefits before your full retirement age, the benefit will be reduced. For example, if your deceased spouse was receiving the higher benefit of $3,000/month and you apply for a survivor benefit at age 60, you will receive a benefit of $2,145 or 71.5%.
If you are still working and have not yet reached your full retirement age, the annual earnings limitation for 2025 of $23,400 will apply.
If you remarry before age 60, you can no longer receive a survivor benefit. You may be eligible for a spousal benefit from your current spouse. If you remarry after age 60, you are still eligible to receive a survivor benefit.
Since a Social Security survivor benefit is considered separate from your own Social Security retirement benefit, you should consider taking one of these two benefits as soon as possible. You have the advantage of letting one of these benefits continue to grow and switch to the higher benefit later.
Lastly, there is no advantage to waiting to collect a survivor benefit past your full retirement age, it never gets larger after your full retirement age.