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Social Security survivors benefits are paid to widows, widowers, and dependents of eligible workers. This benefit is particularly important for young families with children. This page provides detailed information about survivors benefits and can help you understand what to expect from Social Security when you or a loved one dies.
These are examples of the benefits that survivors may receive: Surviving spouse, full retirement age or older — 100% of the deceased worker's benefit amount. Surviving spouse, age 60 — through full retirement age — 71½ to 99% of the deceased worker's basic amount.
Who is eligible to receive Social Security survivors benefits and how do I apply? A surviving spouse, surviving divorced spouse, unmarried child, or dependent parent may be eligible for monthly survivor benefits based on the deceased worker’s earnings.
Jan 26, 2024 · When a Social Security beneficiary dies, his or her surviving spouse is eligible for survivor benefits. About 3.8 million widows and widowers, including some who were divorced from late beneficiaries, were receiving survivor benefits as of December 2023.
May 27, 2022 · Last Updated: November 1, 2022. Months before the first Social Security check was issued in 1940, lawmakers made changes to the planned benefits. Instead of the retired worker’s benefit ending when he died, his widow could collect a survivor benefit for her lifetime.
Dec 16, 2021 · In the event of your death, certain members of your family may be eligible for survivors’ benefits. These include widows and widowers, divorced widows and widowers, children, and dependent parents. The amount of benefits your survivors receive depends on your lifetime earnings.
This booklet gives you an overview of Social Security survivors benefits paid to the spouses and children of workers who die. This booklet isn’t intended to answer all the questions you may have. For more information about our survivors benefits, visit our website, or call our toll-free number.
