What's the difference between spousal and survivor benefits?
Asked by: Arianna Hoppe | Last update: February 17, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (39 votes)
Social Security spousal benefits provide up to 50% of a worker's benefit to a non-working or lower-earning spouse, while survivor benefits offer up to 100% of a deceased worker's benefit to a surviving spouse (or other family members like children), with amounts depending on age and claiming time, creating crucial income streams based on a partner's work record. The key difference is that spousal benefits support living spouses, whereas survivor benefits support families after a worker's death, with survivors potentially receiving a higher percentage than living spouses.
Are spousal benefits and survivor benefits the same?
Survivor benefits are also available to spouses who are taking care of the worker's dependent minor children under the age of 16. Spousal benefits are capped at 50 percent of the worker's benefit. Survivor benefits are set at 100 percent of the deceased worker's benefit.
What qualifies a spouse for survivor benefits?
Spouses and ex-spouses
You may be eligible if you: Are age 60 or older, or age 50–59 if you have a disability, and. Were married for at least 9 months before your spouse's death, and. Didn't remarry before age 60 (age 50 if you have a disability).
Who qualifies for spousal benefits?
To qualify for Social Security spousal benefits, you must generally be at least 62 (or caring for a qualifying child), married for at least one year, and your spouse must already be receiving their own retirement or disability benefits; divorced spouses can also qualify if married 10+ years and meet age/divorce conditions, while widowed individuals have different survivor rules. You'll receive the higher amount of your own retirement benefit or the spousal benefit, up to 50% of your spouse's full benefit.
How long do Social Security spousal survivor benefits last?
These benefits are payable for life unless the spouse begins collecting a retirement benefit that is greater than the survivor benefit. Beneficiaries entitled to two types of Social Security payments receive the higher of the two amounts.
Social Security Survivor Benefits Explained: What Widows & Widowers Must Know
Does a widow get 100% of her husband's Social Security?
Yes, you can get up to 100% of your deceased husband's Social Security benefit, but it depends on your age and if you've reached your own Full Retirement Age (FRA) for survivors; you'll receive a portion (71.5% to 99%) if you claim earlier, with 100% possible at your FRA, which is between 66 and 67 depending on your birth year. The benefit amount is based on his record, but it's calculated to be the greater of his benefit or what you'd get as a survivor at your age, with a potential for the full 100% if you claim at your FRA.
What disqualifies you from survivor benefits for Social Security?
You can be disqualified from Social Security survivor benefits for remarrying before age 60 (or 50 if disabled), if the deceased didn't earn enough work credits, or if you intentionally cause their death; also, high earnings can reduce benefits for those under full retirement age, and failure to report changes can lead to benefit suspension or overpayment recovery.
What is the new law for Social Security spousal benefits?
The biggest recent change is the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) of 2023, effective January 2024, which eliminated the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), meaning your spouse's or survivor's benefits won't be reduced by your non-Social Security government pension anymore, making it much fairer. Also, the "file and suspend" strategy for spousal benefits ended for most, but the core rules remain: you get the higher of your own or your spousal benefit (up to 50% of your partner's), and you can generally switch from spousal to your own higher retirement benefit at full retirement age.
Can you collect both spousal benefits and your own Social Security?
Yes, both you and your spouse can collect Social Security, either on your own earnings records or by claiming a spousal benefit (up to 50% of the higher earner's amount) if it's more than your own, but you'll only receive the single highest benefit you're eligible for, not both combined. You can claim your own benefit, your spouse's benefit, or a combination that equals the higher amount, but you must apply for both if eligible, and the deemed filing rule means you're treated as applying for both when you file for one, ensuring you get the maximum possible benefit for your situation.
How much do I get for spousal benefits?
3 The maximum spousal benefit is 50% of your spouse's FRA benefit if you claim at your FRA. 3 If you receive a spousal benefit before you reach FRA, it will be reduced and will not increase when you reach FRA. Age when you claim the spousal benefit FRA for spousal benefits is age 66 for anyone born 1943 to 1954.
Why would I be denied for survivor benefits?
Not everyone automatically qualifies for survivor benefits. Typically, the deceased must have accumulated enough work credits through Social Security taxes. Surviving spouses may be eligible at age 60 (or 50 if disabled), and unmarried children under 18 (or up to 19 if still in high school) generally qualify.
What not to do after your spouse dies?
When your spouse dies, don't rush major decisions like selling the house or downsizing; don't immediately distribute assets or promise heirlooms; don't tell utility companies too soon, as it can cut services; and don't sign away finances or agree to deals from strangers, protecting yourself from fraud; instead, give yourself time to grieve and consult professionals like an attorney before acting on finances or property.
Can I collect spousal survivor benefits and still work?
You can get Social Security retirement or survivors benefits and work at the same time. But, if you're younger than full retirement age, and earn more than certain amounts, your benefits will be reduced. The amount that your benefits are reduced, however, isn't lost.
How do I apply for spousal survivor benefits?
You can apply for benefits by calling our national toll-free service at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visiting your local Social Security office. An appointment is not required, but if you call ahead and schedule one, it may reduce the time you spend waiting to apply.
What is the Social Security spousal survivor benefits loophole?
A spouse can claim spousal benefits as early as age 62, but doing so will permanently reduce their monthly payment. To receive the full 50% benefit, you must wait until your full retirement age, which is between 66 and 67, depending on your birth year.
What qualifies someone for survivor benefits?
In most cases, a widow or widower qualifies for survivor benefits if he or she is at least 60 and was married to the deceased for at least nine months at the time of death.
Can I collect spousal benefits and wait until I am 70 to collect my own Social Security?
No, generally you cannot collect spousal benefits and also wait until age 70 to collect your own Social Security benefit due to the Social Security Administration's "deemed filing" rule, which requires you to file for both if you're eligible for both and were born on or after January 2, 2016. When you file for spousal benefits, you're automatically considered to have filed for your own retirement benefit, meaning you'll receive the higher of the two amounts but can't delay your own to earn higher credits while collecting spousal money.
How much are survivor benefits?
Payments start at 71.5% of your spouse's benefit and increase the longer you wait to apply. For example, you might get: Over 75% at age 61. Over 80% at age 63.
Who is eligible for spousal benefits?
To qualify for Social Security spousal benefits, you must generally be at least 62 (or caring for a qualifying child), married for at least one year, and your spouse must already be receiving their own retirement or disability benefits; divorced spouses can also qualify if married 10+ years and meet age/divorce conditions, while widowed individuals have different survivor rules. You'll receive the higher amount of your own retirement benefit or the spousal benefit, up to 50% of your spouse's full benefit.
Why would spousal benefits be denied?
Several factors can disqualify you from receiving survivor benefits, such as: Remarrying before a certain age. Your deceased spouse not having earned enough work credits. Not meeting the SSA definition of a spouse.
How much does a wife get of her husband's Social Security if he dies?
As a surviving spouse, you can receive up to 100% of your husband's Social Security benefit if you're at your full retirement age (FRA) or older, but the amount decreases the younger you are, ranging from 71.5% (at age 60) up to 99% (just before FRA), with special provisions for caring for a minor child. You get the higher of your own benefit or the survivor benefit, not both added together.
Can I take my Social Security now and switch to spousal benefit?
Yes, if your spouse hasn't filed yet, you can often claim your own Social Security benefit early (even at 62) and then switch to a larger spousal benefit later when your spouse files for theirs, effectively getting the higher of the two amounts. You'll get your own reduced amount first, then Social Security will automatically adjust it to the spousal amount (up to 50% of your spouse's benefit) when they claim, providing a potentially higher monthly check.
Can you collect both Social Security and survivor benefits?
Social Security applies what is sometimes called a dual-entitlement calculation. This means: If your own retirement benefit is higher, you continue receiving yours. If your spouse's survivor benefit is higher, you switch to that amount.
What is one of the biggest mistakes people make regarding Social Security?
One of the biggest mistakes people make with Social Security is claiming benefits too early (at age 62), locking in a permanently smaller monthly check, rather than waiting until their Full Retirement Age (FRA) or even age 70 to receive significantly higher payments and larger cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) over their lifetime. This decision permanently reduces benefits by up to 30% and forfeits substantial annual increases, creating a lasting financial shortfall.
What is a widow entitled to when her husband dies?
When a husband dies, a wife is generally entitled to a share of the estate (determined by will or state law if no will), Social Security survivor benefits, potentially a share of pensions/retirement plans, personal property, and rights to the family home (like a life estate), with entitlements varying by state laws (intestacy, elective share, exempt property) and the specifics of the couple's assets and estate plan.