Income and Social Security

Survivor and spousal benefits

If your husband or wife, or a former spouse, worked under Social Security, you may get monthly benefits on their record, both while they're alive and after they die. Widows and widowers can start as early as 60, and a divorced spouse may qualify if the marriage lasted at least 10 years.

Checked Oct 28, 2026

Rules set by the Social Security Administration

An older man works out his monthly budget at a desk with a calculator and a notebook

Who may qualify

Who may qualify for Survivor and spousal benefits
Widow or widower: earliest age	60, or 50 if you have a disability
Spouse: earliest age	62, or any age if you care for the worker's child who is under 16 or disabled
Widow or widower: length of marriage	At least 9 months, with some exceptions
Spouse: length of marriage	At least 1 year, with some exceptions
Divorced spouse: length of marriage	At least 10 years, and you're not married now
Surviving divorced spouse: length of marriage	At least 10 years
Divorced at least 2 years	You may get benefits once your ex is 62, even if your ex hasn't applied

Source: Social Security Administration (source 6)

What you may get

What Survivor and spousal benefits pays
Widow or widower starting at full retirement age	100% of the worker's basic benefit, adjusted if the worker started early or delayed
Spouse or divorced spouse	Up to half of the worker's basic benefit, less if you start before full retirement age
Widow or widower starting between 60 and full retirement age	Reduced for each month before full retirement age
One-time death payment	$255

Source: Social Security Administration (source 7)

Dates, renewals and waiting lists

Dates and renewals
Deadline to apply for the $255 payment	Within 2 years after the death, with some exceptions

Source: Social Security Administration (source 9)

Good to know

Report a death to Social Security by phone or in person, or let the funeral director do it. Social Security doesn't take death reports by email or online.
The $255 payment goes first to a surviving spouse who lived in the same household, then to certain other spouses and children.
Since January 2024, Social Security no longer reduces spouse or widow(er) benefits because of a government pension, under the Social Security Fairness Act.

Sources: USAGov (U.S. General Services Administration) (source 1), Social Security Administration (source 9)

What people get wrong

MythIf I remarry, I lose my widow's benefits.
Not if you remarry at 60 or older (or at 50 or older if you get disabled widow's benefits). For these benefits, Social Security then treats the new marriage as if it hadn't happened.
MythClaiming on my ex's record takes money from my ex's new family.
Not true. Benefits for a divorced spouse are left out when Social Security applies the family limit, so they don't lower benefits for the rest of the family.
MythMy ex has to apply first before I can claim.
Not always. If you've been divorced at least 2 years and your ex is 62 or older, you may get benefits even if your ex hasn't applied.

Sources

USAGov (U.S. General Services Administration), Report the death of a Social Security or Medicare beneficiary (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
Social Security Administration, POMS GN 03101.010: Time Limit for Filing Administrative Appeals (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
Social Security Administration, POMS RS 00202.001: Definitions and Requirements for Spouse Benefits (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
Social Security Administration, POMS RS 00202.005: Divorced Spouse (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
Social Security Administration, POMS RS 00202.020: Spouse's Benefits - Payment (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
Social Security Administration, POMS RS 00207.001: Widow(er)'s Benefits Definitions and Requirements (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
Social Security Administration, POMS RS 00207.002: Widow(er)'s Benefits - Payment and Termination (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
Social Security Administration, POMS RS 00207.003: How Remarriage Affects Widow(er)'s Benefits (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
Social Security Administration, POMS RS 00210.001: Requirements for the Lump-Sum Death Payment (LSDP) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
Social Security Administration, POMS RS 00615.680: Divorced Spouse or Surviving Divorced Spouse Entitlement Disregarded for Family Maximum and Minimum Benefit Purposes (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
Social Security Administration, POMS GN 02608.100: Government Pension Offset (GPO) Provision (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.

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