Survivor Benefits
There are several types of survivor benefits provided under Social Security. Benefits can be paid to the following:
- Your widow or widower may be able to receive full benefits at full retirement age. The full retirement age for survivors is age 66 for people born in 1945-1956 and will gradually increase to age 67 for people born in 1962 or later. Reduced widow or widower benefits can be received as early as age 60. If your surviving spouse is disabled, benefits can begin as early as age 50.
- Your widow or widower can receive benefits at any age if she or he takes care of your child who is receiving Social Security benefits and younger than age 16 or disabled.
- Your unmarried children who are younger than age 18 (or up to age 19 if they are attending elementary or secondary school full time) also can receive benefits. 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 your stepchildren, grandchildren, stepgrandchildren or adopted children.
- Your dependent parents can receive benefits if they are age 62 or older. (For your parents to qualify as dependents, you would have had to provide at least one half of their support.)
Benefits for surviving divorced spouses
If you have been divorced, your former wife or husband who is age 60 or older (50-59 if disabled) can get benefits
if your marriage lasted at least 10 years. Your former spouse, however, does not have to meet the age or length-of-
marriage rule if he or she is caring for his/her child who is younger than age 16 or who is disabled and also entitled
based on your work. The child must be your former spouse’s natural or legally adopted child.
Benefits paid to you as a surviving divorced spouse who meets the age or disability requirement as a widow or
widower won’t affect the benefit rates for other survivors getting benefits on the worker’s record. However, if you
are the surviving divorced mother or father who has the worker’s child under age 16 or disabled in your care, your
benefit will affect the amount of the benefits of others on the worker’s record.
if your marriage lasted at least 10 years. Your former spouse, however, does not have to meet the age or length-of-
marriage rule if he or she is caring for his/her child who is younger than age 16 or who is disabled and also entitled
based on your work. The child must be your former spouse’s natural or legally adopted child.
Benefits paid to you as a surviving divorced spouse who meets the age or disability requirement as a widow or
widower won’t affect the benefit rates for other survivors getting benefits on the worker’s record. However, if you
are the surviving divorced mother or father who has the worker’s child under age 16 or disabled in your care, your
benefit will affect the amount of the benefits of others on the worker’s record.
One-time death payment
There is a one-time payment of $255 that can be made when you die if you have worked long enough. This payment can be made only to your spouse or child if they meet certain requirements. Survivors must apply for this payment within two years of the date of death.
How much are benefits?
How much your family can get from Social Security depends on your average lifetime earnings. That means the more you have earned, the more their benefits will be. You should check your Social Security Statement to see an estimate of survivors benefits that could be paid, as well as an estimate of retirement and disability benefits and other important information. You can create a my Social Security account online to review your Statement by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount and providing some personal information to verify your identity.