How Widows and Widowers Receive Social Security Survivor Benefits

What survivor benefits are and who can receive them

When a person who worked and paid Social Security taxes dies, their widow or widower may receive monthly payments based on that person's earnings record. These are called survivor benefits, and they are separate from the benefits the deceased person was receiving. You do not need to have been married for a certain length of time, though Social Security does have rules about when the marriage took place relative to the death.

The amount you receive depends on how much the deceased person earned during their working years and what age you are when you start receiving payments. If you were caring for the deceased person's child under age 16 at the time of death, you may be able to receive benefits regardless of your own age — this is called a widow's or widower's benefit at any age. Otherwise, you can usually start receiving full benefits at your full retirement age, or reduced benefits as early as age 60.

Key Takeaways

• You must contact Social Security directly to report the death and start the process; no other agency will do this for you.
• Bring the death certificate, your marriage certificate, and proof of the deceased person's Social Security number to your local Social Security office or apply online at ssa.gov.
• If you were caring for a child under 16, you may receive benefits at any age; otherwise, you can receive reduced benefits at 60 or full benefits at your full retirement age.
• Social Security will review your marriage to confirm it was legal and lasted long enough; if you were divorced from the deceased person, you may still be able to receive benefits under different rules.
• Payments typically begin one to three months after Social Security receives your complete application, though this varies by how quickly you provide all required documents.

Documents you will need to bring or send

Social Security requires specific documents to process your claim. You will need the original or certified death certificate — a photocopy is not enough. You will also need your marriage certificate (original or certified copy) to prove the marriage was legal. If you have been divorced and remarried, bring all relevant marriage and divorce certificates.

Bring your own Social Security card or a document showing your Social Security number, such as a tax return or bank statement. You will also need to provide the deceased person's Social Security number if you know it; if you do not, Social Security can look it up if you provide their full name and date of birth. Bring a photo ID such as a driver's license or passport. If you are applying on behalf of a minor child, bring the child's birth certificate as well.

If any of your documents are not in English, bring the original and a certified English translation. If you do not have a certified copy of a document, Social Security can sometimes help you obtain one, but this takes longer — it is faster to get certified copies before you apply.

How to start your claim in person or online

You can report the death and begin your claim in two ways. The fastest method is to visit your local Social Security office in person with your documents. You do not need an appointment, though calling ahead to confirm hours can save a trip. Find your local office at ssa.gov/locator or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

You can also start your claim online at ssa.gov if you have a my Social Security account. Go to the "Benefits" section and select "Report the death of a family member." You will be asked to upload images of your documents. After you submit your online application, Social Security will contact you by phone or mail to confirm details and ask for any missing information.

If you cannot visit an office or use the online system, you can call 1-800-772-1213 to report the death and request that an application be mailed to you. However, this is the slowest route — your claim will not begin processing until Social Security receives the signed, completed form back from you.

What happens after you submit your application

After Social Security receives your complete application, they will verify the death with the vital records office in the state where the person died. They will also review your marriage certificate to confirm the marriage was legal and check whether it meets their timing requirements. This verification process typically takes two to four weeks.

Once Social Security confirms the information, they will calculate your benefit amount based on the deceased person's earnings record. They will send you a letter explaining your benefit amount, the date your payments begin, and how to manage your account online. Payments are deposited directly into your bank account on the same day each month — usually the third, fourth, or fifth of the month depending on your birth date.

If Social Security needs more information from you, they will contact you by mail or phone. Respond as quickly as you can, because your claim will not move forward until they receive what they need. If you do not respond within 60 days, Social Security may close your claim, though you can reopen it later.

Survivor benefits if you were caring for a child under 16

If you were the primary caregiver for the deceased person's biological, adopted, or stepchild who was under age 16 at the time of death, you can receive widow's or widower's benefits at any age. This is one of the few situations where age does not limit your may be able to access. The child must also be receiving survivor benefits based on the deceased person's record.

These benefits continue until the youngest child turns 16. At that point, your payments stop, though the child's benefits continue until they turn 19 (or 22 if they are a full-time high school student). You can return to receiving benefits yourself once you reach your full retirement age, or you can receive reduced benefits starting at age 60.

If you remarry before age 60, your benefits will stop. If you remarry at age 60 or later, your benefits continue. This rule applies whether or not you are still caring for a child.

Survivor benefits if you were divorced from the deceased person

You may be able to receive survivor benefits based on a former spouse's record even if you were divorced at the time of death. Social Security requires that the marriage lasted at least 10 years. The marriage must have ended in divorce, not annulment — if the marriage was annulled, Social Security treats it as if it never happened.

If you were caring for the deceased person's child under age 16, the 10-year marriage requirement does not apply. You can receive benefits at any age as long as you were caring for the child and the child is receiving survivor benefits.

If you remarried after the divorce, you cannot receive benefits based on your former spouse's record unless your later marriage ended in death, divorce, or annulment. The rules are the same as for current spouses: you can receive reduced benefits at 60 or full benefits at your full retirement age.

What to do if your application is denied or delayed

If Social Security denies your claim, they will send you a letter explaining why. Common reasons include that the marriage did not meet the timing requirements, the death certificate was not accepted, or Social Security could not verify the deceased person's work record. You have the right to ask Social Security to reconsider their decision.

To request reconsideration, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 within 60 days of receiving the denial letter. Bring any new documents that support your claim. If Social Security denies your request for reconsideration, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. This process can take several months, but you have the right to representation during the hearing.

If your claim is taking longer than expected, call Social Security to ask about the status. Processing times vary depending on how busy the office is and whether Social Security needs to contact other agencies to verify information. If you are facing financial hardship while waiting, ask Social Security whether you can receive emergency payments while your claim is being processed — this is not always available, but it is worth asking about.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a certain age to receive survivor benefits?

If you were caring for a child under 16, you can receive benefits at any age. Otherwise, you can receive reduced benefits starting at age 60, or full benefits at your full retirement age (which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on when you were born). Social Security will tell you your full retirement age when you apply.

What if the deceased person was not yet receiving Social Security?

You can still receive survivor benefits. Social Security bases the benefit amount on what the person earned during their working years, not on whether they had started collecting payments. You will need to provide proof of their work history, which Social Security can usually verify using their Social Security number.

Can I receive survivor benefits and my own Social Security at the same time?

No. If you are may have access to to both, Social Security will pay you whichever amount is higher. You cannot receive both payments. If you are receiving survivor benefits and later become may have access to to your own retirement benefits, Social Security will switch you to your own benefits if that amount is larger.

What happens to my survivor benefits if I remarry?

If you remarry before age 60, your survivor benefits stop immediately. If you remarry at age 60 or later, your benefits continue. If your new marriage ends in divorce or death, you can go back to receiving survivor benefits based on your former spouse's record.

How long does it take to receive my first payment?

Payments typically begin one to three months after Social Security receives your complete application. The exact timing depends on how quickly Social Security can verify the death and review your marriage certificate. If you are missing documents, the process will take longer.