Survivors Benefits | SSA (2024)

FAQs

Who qualifies for survivor benefits? ›

For benefits purposes, we consider a survivor to be the spouse, child, or parent of a worker who dies. That person must have worked long enough under Social Security to be eligible for benefits.

According to the Social Security Administration, the average survivor benefit paid in December 2023 was $1,501.60 per month.

If you claim widow benefits at full retirement age, you can receive 100% of your deceased spouse's retirement benefit. In other circ*mstances, Social Security determines the percentage you can claim based on various factors, including your age, whether you have a disability, and whether you care for any dependents.

If you are working and paying into Social Security, some of those taxes you pay are for survivors benefits. Your spouse, children, and parents could be eligible for benefits based on your earnings. You may receive survivors benefits when a family member dies.

However, even if you lived apart when your spouse died, you might still be eligible for the death benefit if you already receive spousal benefits. Survivor benefits are usually paid for life, so it's worth taking the time to estimate your monthly amount.

The short version: Spousal benefits are available to retired workers' spouses or ex-spouses. They pay up to 50% of a worker's monthly retirement or disability benefit. Survivor benefits are paid to a surviving spouse or surviving ex-spouse when a Social Security beneficiary dies.

1. Widowed Spouses and Former Spouses Remarrying Early: Widowed spouses and former spouses who remarry before age 60 (or 50 if they are disabled) become ineligible for survivor benefits. However, if the later marriage ends, eligibility can be reinstated.

Widows and widowers

These benefits are payable for life unless the spouse begins collecting a retirement benefit that is greater than the survivor benefit. Beneficiaries entitled to two types of Social Security payments receive the higher of the two amounts.

A surviving spouse, surviving divorced spouse, unmarried child, or dependent parent may be eligible for monthly survivor benefits based on the deceased worker's earnings. In addition, a one-time lump sum death payment of $255 can be made to a qualifying spouse or child if they meet certain requirements.

If a child has a parent who works enough to earn Social Security in retirement and passes away, the child is eligible for survivor benefits. The child can receive payments until they turn 18, with two exceptions. First, if the child is still finishing high school, they can receive payments until 19.

How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus? ›

There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.

Surviving spouse, full retirement age or older—100% of your benefit amount. Surviving spouse, age 60 to full retirement age—71½ to 99% of your basic amount. A child under age 18 (19 if still in elementary or secondary school) or has a disability—75%.

In most cases, a widow or widower qualifies for survivor benefits if he or she is at least 60 and had been married to the deceased for at least nine months at the time of death.

If your spouse died, you could qualify for survivor benefits if: You were married to the deceased person for at least nine months. You are at least 60 years old, unless you are disabled or caring for the deceased person's child, who is under age 16 or disabled.

If you qualify for your own retirement and spouse's benefits, we will always pay your own benefits first. If your benefit amount as a spouse is higher than your own retirement benefit, you will get a combination of the two benefits that equals the higher amount.

If you or the insured worker was granted a tax exemption as a member of a religious group, whose members oppose insurance plans such as Social Security, you may not be eligible for survivor benefits. If you are eligible, your benefits may be smaller (See §1128.);