Social Security survivor benefits provide income to eligible family members after death. Learn about eligibility, how to claim, and more with Vanguard.
Social Security survivor benefits
Points to know
- Social Security survivor benefits provide income to eligible family members—such as spouses, children, and sometimes parents—after a loved one's death.
- You can decide when to begin receiving survivor benefits and later switch to your own benefits, using the strategy that works best for you.
- Your benefits can be affected by factors such as your deceased family member's work history, your age, and whether you're currently working.
What are Social Security survivor benefits?
Social Security survivor benefits are monthly payments designed to help eligible family members after a loved one who paid into Social Security passes away. If you've lost a family member who paid into Social Security, you may be eligible for these benefits. This monthly income can offer financial stability during a difficult time by replacing part of what your loved one earned.
These benefits are funded by the payroll taxes paid throughout a person's working years. Most workers qualify after earning 40 credits, or the equivalent to about 10 years of work.
Who is eligible for Social Security survivor benefits?
Eligibility depends on your relationship to the person who passed away and their work history. Benefits are generally available to spouses, children, and dependent parents.
Current or former spouses
You may qualify for survivor benefits even if you were divorced. Your eligibility and benefit amount will depend on several factors.
Rules and considerations
- Remarriage. If you choose to remarry, you typically lose eligibility. However, if you were married to your former spouse for at least 10 years and remarry after age 60 (or 50 if disabled), you may still qualify for benefits.
- Benefit amount. Your payment is based on your spouse's work record and your age when you claim.
- Caring for a child. If you're caring for your ex-spouse's child who's under age 16 or disabled, you may qualify regardless of your age. If you're a current spouse caring for a child, you can find more information below under "Caregiving spouses."
When's the best time to claim spousal benefits?
The right timing depends on your age, work history, and whether you qualify for other Social Security benefits. It's important to consider when to claim, because timing can significantly affect how much you receive.
You can start receiving survivor benefits at age 60 (or 50 if you're disabled). However, if you claim before your full retirement age (FRA), your monthly payment will be lower. Understanding how early claiming affects your income can help you plan more effectively.
If you've worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years, you can begin claiming your own retirement benefit at age 62. If your late spouse's benefit is higher, you may choose to claim your own benefit first and then switch to the survivor benefit at your FRA.
You can claim survivor benefits as early as age 60 and your own retirement benefits anytime between ages 62 and 70. The Social Security Administration can help you compare your options and coordinate your benefits to support your long-term income needs.
If you start early and later change your mind, you have 2 options:
- The "reset" rule. Within 12 months of starting benefits, you can reset your claim and erase the reduction to your monthly benefit—but you'll need to repay all benefits you and any other survivors received.
- The voluntary suspension rule. If you began collecting benefits before your FRA, you can pause payments at FRA and restart them later to increase your monthly benefit.
If you wait until your FRA, you'll generally receive 100% of your late spouse's primary insurance amount (PIA). The amount could be reduced depending on their age and whether they claimed benefits before their FRA.
Survivor benefits don't increase after FRA, so if you plan to take your own benefit first and switch to the survivor benefit later, it usually makes the most sense to switch at FRA rather than waiting until age 70.
As you consider when to start collecting, remember that if you decide to delay, you can revisit your decision as often as you'd like. That flexibility is built in.
Vanguard Advice can help you factor Social Security survivor benefits into your plan.
Caregiving spouses
If you're caring for a dependent child of your late spouse—and the child is under age 16 or has a disability—you may qualify for child-in-care survivor benefits regardless of your age. These payments can help provide steady income support until your child becomes more independent.
Rules and considerations
- Child qualifications. The child or children in your care must be under age 16 or have a qualifying disability. They must be your biological child, adopted child, or stepchild who depends on you financially.
- Your marital status. If you remarry before age 60 (or 50 if disabled), you typically lose eligibility for child-in-care benefits.
- Work history. You don't need your own Social Security earnings to qualify. Eligibility is based solely on caring for your child.
- Widow(er)'s blackout period. Once your child turns 16, caregiver benefits may stop. Life insurance can help bridge the gap in income until you're eligible for Social Security benefits again.
- Family maximum benefit. Your benefit is based on your late spouse's work record, but the family maximum benefit may limit the total amount paid to all eligible survivors.
Children
Unmarried children may qualify for survivor benefits based on a deceased parent's work record.
Rules and considerations
- Eligibility. Children age 17 and younger are eligible to receive benefits. Payments typically continue until the child turns 18, or 19 if they're still in high school full-time.
- Disabled adult children. Benefits can continue into adulthood if the disability began before age 22.
- Special cases: Married children, stepchildren, adopted children, grandchildren, and step-grandchildren may qualify in certain situations.
Dependent parents
If you're age 62 or older, and your child provided at least half of your financial support before passing away, you—and possibly your spouse—may qualify for survivor benefits.
Rules and considerations
- Proof of dependency. You'll need to demonstrate financial support, typically through income or expense records.
- One or both parents. If both parents were dependent on the deceased child, each may qualify for a separate benefit, subject to the family maximum.
For more information on eligibility for Social Security benefits, visit the Social Security Administration website or contact them directly to inquire about your specific situation.
What disqualifies you from Social Security survivor benefits?
Some situations can make you ineligible, while others may delay your application. Knowing the rules upfront can help you avoid surprises.
You may be ineligible if:
- You remarry before age 60.
- You're disabled and remarry before age 50.
- Your deceased family member didn't earn enough work credits to qualify for Social Security.
Missing information or applying late won't disqualify you, but it can slow things down.
Have these documents ready before you apply:
- Your loved one's Social Security number.
- Their death certificate.
- Proof of your relationship.
How are survivor benefits calculated?
Your survivor benefits depend on your loved one's lifetime earnings and your age when you claim. The more they paid into Social Security, the higher your potential benefit.
If multiple survivors collect benefits from the same record, a family maximum limit may apply.
Want to see your estimate? Use the Social Security Administration's tool.
Factors that could reduce your payments
Several factors can affect your Social Security survivor benefits. Understanding these considerations can help you build a better financial plan:
- Earnings. If you start benefits before full retirement age and keep working, your payments may be temporarily reduced. Once you reach full retirement age, your benefit will be adjusted.
- Taxes. Depending on your overall income, some of your Social Security benefits may be taxable.
- Medicare costs. If you're enrolled in Medicare, premiums for certain parts of coverage can be taken out of your monthly benefit.
Maximize your Social Security benefits with insights from Vanguard
How to apply for Social Security survivor benefits
You can call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 to apply by phone or set up an appointment at your local office. Online applications aren't available.
Have these documents ready to confirm your eligibility:
- Your Social Security card.
- Your deceased family member's Social Security number.
- Your original birth certificate or other proof of your birth.
- A copy of your deceased family member's W-2 forms or self-employment tax return for the most recent year.
- A marriage certificate (if applicable).
- A death certificate or other proof of death from a funeral home.
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you weren't born in the United States.
Benefits usually start the month the Social Security Administration gets your claim—not the month your loved one passed. So, it's best to apply as soon as you can.
Death benefit
In addition to monthly survivor payments, you may qualify for a one-time death benefit of $255 to help with immediate expenses.
To receive the benefit, you must meet specific eligibility requirements:
- You were living with your spouse at the time of their death, or
- You were receiving Social Security benefits based on your spouse's record, or
- You're a dependent child eligible for survivor benefits.
This payment isn't automatic—even if you're already receiving survivor benefits. You must apply within 2 years of your loved one's passing to qualify.
A Vanguard advisor can help
Not sure what's best for you? A Vanguard advisor can assist with Social Security decisions and more. We'll help you create a custom financial plan, manage your portfolio, and track your goals—all at a low cost.
Plan your next steps with personalized guidance from Vanguard.
Frequently asked questions about Social Security survivor benefits
The Social Security Fairness Act, passed in January 2025, removed 2 rules—the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). These rules had reduced benefits for some public employees with pensions from jobs not covered by Social Security. Now, eligible workers and their families can receive full survivor benefits.
You can't receive both benefits in full at the same time. The Social Security Administration will pay whichever one is the larger amount. Many people claim one benefit first and switch later if the other is higher.
There's a limit on total payments called the family maximum benefit. It caps the combined amount survivors can receive based on one worker's record.