Social Security is a key source of financial security to widowed spouses in old age. About 7.5 million individuals age 60 and older receive benefits based, at least in part, on a deceased spouse’s work record. When a retired worker dies, the surviving spouse gets an amount equal to the worker’s full retirement benefit.

When can you get your deceased spouse Social Security?

age 60
The earliest a widow or widower can start receiving Social Security survivors benefits based on age will remain at age 60. Widows or widowers benefits based on age can start any time between age 60 and full retirement age as a survivor.

What happens to your Social Security benefits when your spouse dies?

If the surviving spouse takes the benefit before their full retirement age, they are reduced for the survivors’ filing age based on the following scale: As I mentioned before, survivor benefits are more flexible. You can coordinate your worker benefit and the survivor benefit to your advantage.

When is a spouse eligible for Social Security benefits?

If the deceased was already receiving Social Security benefits, the surviving spouse is eligible to collect 100% of the benefits as long as they are at least 60 and they were married to the deceased for at least nine months. There are exceptions:

Can a widow collect on her late spouse’s Social Security?

If you apply on the basis of caring for a child who is under 16 or disabled, you can collect 75 percent of the late spouse’s benefit, regardless of your age. You will not receive a survivor benefit in addition to your own retirement benefit; Social Security will pay the higher of the two amounts.

Who is eligible for survivor benefits when a spouse dies?

En español | When a Social Security beneficiary dies, his or her surviving spouse is eligible for survivor benefits.