21 Oct Social Security When a Spouse Dies
Losing a spouse is a very difficult experience, both emotionally and financially. One of the things you’ll need to handle is understanding the survivor benefits available to you through Social Security. About 3.8 million widows and widowers, including some who were divorced from late beneficiaries, were receiving survivor benefits as of August 2024. Here is a quick overview.
How Survivor Benefits Work -Survivor benefits can be confusing but it can be worth taking the time to understand how they work. They are based on a formula of “work credits”. It’s best to talk with Social Security to determine the amount you get as a survivor versus what you can claim on your own. Keep in mind that to collect Social Security you must be a minimum of age 60.
What If the Deceased Was Already Receiving Benefits? – If your spouse was already receiving Social Security, you could collect 100% of their benefits if you are at least 60 and had been married for at least nine months (with some exceptions for accidental deaths or military service). You can also apply for benefits as early as age 50 if you’re disabled, or at any age if you have children under 16 or disabled children.
Who Can Receive Survivor Benefits?
- A widow or widower over 60 (or over 50 if disabled).
- Surviving divorced spouses if the marriage lasted at least 10 years.
- A widow or widower caring for a child under 16 or a disabled child.
- Unmarried children under 18 (or 19 if still in school), or disabled adult children whose disability began before age 22.
Others, such as stepchildren or dependent parents, may also qualify in some cases.
Important Notes If you’re already receiving Social Security when your spouse dies, you’ll only get the higher of your own benefit or the survivor benefit. You won’t receive both. Also, if you remarry before age 60, you may lose eligibility for survivor benefits.
Survivor Benefit Amounts The amount you receive is based on your spouse’s earnings. Here’s a general breakdown:
- Widow or widower at full retirement age: 100%.
- Widow or widower age 60: 71.5% to 99% of their benefits.
- Disabled widow or widower (ages 50-59): 71.5%.
- Widow or widower caring for a child under 16: 75%.
- Children under 18 or disabled children: 75%.
- Dependent parents: 82.5% for one parent, 75% for two.
There are limits on how much a family can receive, generally between 150% to 180% of the deceased’s benefit.
Applying for Survivor Benefits – To apply, you’ll need the following documents:
When applying for survivor benefits, be prepared to provide the following:
- Proof of death (death certificate).
- Social Security numbers (yours and your spouse’s).
- Your birth certificate.
- Marriage certificate (if not already on file with Social Security).
- Dependent children’s Social Security numbers and birth certificates (if applicable).
- Your spouse’s most recent W-2 forms or self-employment tax return. (if still working)
You cannot apply online; you must call or visit a local Social Security office.
Next Steps – Social Security rules can be complicated. Speak with a your financial advisor to help you understand the process and make the best decisions for your situation.
Content was derived from:
https://www.aarp.org/retirement/social-security/questions-answers/social-security-spouse-dies.html