Social Security Benefits: What to Do When Your Spouse Dies

During the weeks and months after the loss of a spouse, time somehow feels like it is both standing still and moving at light speed. All the normal, familiar routines are upended, and your days and nights are filled with so many thoughts and unanswered questions. You may be busy with funeral arrangements, coordinating with loved ones for services, comforting children, endless paperwork, consulting with attorneys and financial advisors, and all of the daily tasks that can’t be postponed like remembering to feed your pets or eat a meal.

And in the moments in between, those questions keep coming back. Many boil down to one main thing–what do I now? We’ve previously shared a blog with a financial checklist for widows and widowers detailing financial steps to take after losing a spouse. In this post, we will take a closer look at what you need to do to claim survivor social security benefits when your spouse dies.

What You Need to Know about Claiming Survivor Benefits

Many different factors will affect what (and if) you are entitled to when claiming social security survivor benefits. All of the variables can get a bit confusing, and working with a trusted financial advisor is recommended when considering your options, as they will guide you through the steps you should take and how each part will affect the bigger financial picture.

The main considerations for survivor benefits are:

• Did your spouse earn enough social security credits to qualify?
• Are you eligible as the surviving spouse or as a divorced spouse?
• How much do you qualify for in monthly payments as the surviving spouse?
• Do you qualify for a one-time lump-sum death benefit?

Generally, as a surviving spouse, you will be eligible for a survivor benefit of up to 100% of your spouse’s benefit based upon their earnings record. The amount of the benefit depends on your age and the age of your spouse when they died, as well as if they have already begun claiming retirement benefits. Let’s take a look at these considerations and try to answer some of these questions, and then we will discuss your next steps.

Did Your Spouse Earn Enough Social Security Credits to Qualify for Benefits?

In order to qualify for benefits, the deceased spouse must have worked long enough and earned enough credits under Social Security. Credits are earned when you work and pay Social Security taxes, and you must earn at least 40 Social Security credits to qualify for Social Security benefits. According to the Social Security Administration, a worker can potentially earn up to four credits each year. In 2022, workers earn a credit for each $1,510 of wages or income from self-employment. Once they’ve earned $6,040, they’ll have earned your maximum of four credits for that year.

Now while a worker must earn at least 40 social security credits to qualify for retirement benefits, the number of credits required to qualify for survivor benefits depends on the age of your spouse when they die (the younger their age at death, the fewer credits needed for family members to receive survivor benefits). Every situation is different, and if your spouse earned less than 40 total credits during their lifetime, you will need to contact a claims representative at the Social Security Administration to learn about your options and benefits.

Do You Qualify for Monthly Benefits as the Surviving Spouse?

If your spouse earned enough credits to qualify for benefits, you may be eligible for monthly payments after their death. There are certain qualifications you must meet as the surviving spouse, and while there are other family members who may qualify, we are only looking at the criteria for spouses in this post.

Eligible Spouses

• A widow/widower age 60 or older (50 or older if disabled)
  • You can receive reduced benefits as early as age 60.
  • If you qualify for your own benefits, you can switch to your benefits as early as age 62.
  • If you have a disability and the disability started before or within 7 years of the worker’s death, you can begin receiving benefits at the time of their death.
  • If you remarry after you reach age 60 (age 50 if you have a disability), your remarriage will not affect your eligibility for survivors benefits, but you may wish to instead apply for benefits under your current spouse’s record if they are greater than your deceased spouse’s benefits.
• A widow/widower of any age that is still caring for the deceased’s child who is under 16 or if that child has a disability and is receiving child’s benefits.
• A surviving divorced spouse (under certain conditions)
  • You may qualify for the same benefits as a widow/widower if your marriage lasted longer than 10 years.
  • Any benefits paid to you solely as a divorced spouse will not affect the benefit amount for other survivors.

Additional Considerations

• If you are already receiving spousal benefits at the time of your spouse’s death, you will be automatically converted to survivor benefits after the death is reported to the SSA.
• If you are already receiving your own retirement benefits, you can only apply for survivor benefits if your current benefits are lower than the benefits you would get as a surviving spouse.
• If you only became entitled to retirement benefits less than 12 months ago, you might be able to withdraw your retirement application and apply for survivor benefits only. If so, you can reapply for your own retirement benefits later when they are higher.
• If you remarry before age 60 (50 if disabled), you cannot receive surviving spousal benefits while you are married.
• If you will also receive a pension based on work not covered by Social Security, such as government or foreign work, your Social Security benefits as a survivor may be affected.

What Monthly Benefit Amount Should You Expect?

The amount of your monthly payments are based upon the earnings of your spouse–the more they paid in social security taxes, the higher your benefits will be. For example:

• Widow or widower, full retirement age or older — 100% of the deceased worker’s benefit amount.
• Widow or widower, age 60 — full retirement age — 71½ to 99% of the deceased worker’s basic amount.
• Widow or widower with a disability aged 50 through 59 — 71½%.
• Widow or widower, any age, caring for a child under age 16 — 75%.
• Percentages for a surviving divorced spouse would be the same as above.

Maximum Family Amount

• There’s a limit to the monthly amount that family members can receive, which varies, but it is generally equal to between 150% and 180% of the basic benefit rate.
• If the sum of the benefits payable to family members is greater than this limit, the benefits will be reduced proportionately. Any benefits paid to a surviving divorced spouse based on disability or age won’t count toward this maximum amount.

What is a Death Benefit?

A social security death benefit is a one-time lump-sum payment of $255. It can be paid to the surviving spouse in the event they were living with the deceased at the time of death. This is not a part of monthly survivor benefits. If you are not currently receiving benefits, you must apply for this payment within two years of your spouse’s date of death.

What You Need to Do Next: Reporting Your Spouse’s Death to the SSA

It’s important to notify the Social Security Administration of your spouse’s death in order to begin the process of receiving benefits. It is VERY IMPORTANT to note that you cannot report a death or apply for survivor benefits online. Oftentimes, the funeral home will notify the SSA of the death if provided the social security number of the deceased. If you need to report a death or apply for benefits, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You can speak to a Social Security Administration representative between 8:00 am – 7:00 pm. Monday through Friday. You can also contact your local Social Security office.

Take a look at this page on the SSA’s website for a list of documents you will need to apply for benefits as a surviving spouse as well as what you need to do to apply.