Your spouse may receive benefits based on your Social Security record, but the amount depends on their age and whether they are caring for a child.

When you die, your Social Security benefit does not automatically transfer to your spouse. Instead, your spouse may be able to receive survivor benefits — a separate payment calculated from your earnings record. The payment your spouse gets is not your benefit; it is their own benefit based on being married to you and your work history.

Whether your spouse receives anything, and how much, depends on three things: their age when they claim, whether they are caring for your child under 16, and how much you earned during your working years. A spouse who waits until their full retirement age receives more than one who claims at 60. A spouse caring for your child under 16 can claim at any age.

Key Takeaways

  • Your surviving spouse can receive a benefit based on your earnings record, but only if they claim it — Social Security does not pay it automatically.
  • A spouse at full retirement age receives up to 100% of what you were receiving; a spouse at 60 receives about 71.5% of your benefit amount.
  • A spouse caring for your child under 16 can claim survivor benefits at any age, even in their 50s.
  • Your spouse must contact Social Security to claim survivor benefits; they cannot do this online and must call or visit an office in person.
  • If your spouse remarries before age 60, they lose the right to survivor benefits based on your record (with limited exceptions for remarriage after 60).

How much your spouse receives based on your age at death

The amount your spouse receives is a percentage of your primary insurance amount — the benefit you were receiving or would have received at your full retirement age. Social Security calculates this from your 35 highest-earning years. If you died before reaching full retirement age, your spouse receives less than if you had lived longer and let your benefit grow.

A surviving spouse at full retirement age receives up to 100% of your primary insurance amount. A surviving spouse who claims at 60 receives about 71.5% of that amount. Each year they wait between 60 and full retirement age, the payment increases. A spouse caring for your child under 16 receives 75% of your primary insurance amount, regardless of their own age.

Your spouse does not receive your full current benefit if you were already claiming when you died. They receive a percentage of your primary insurance amount, which may be different from what you were actually getting each month.

When your spouse can claim and what they need

Your surviving spouse can claim survivor benefits as early as age 60, or at any age if they are caring for your child under 16. They do not have to wait until their own full retirement age to claim, though waiting increases the monthly amount.

To claim, your spouse must contact Social Security in person at a local office or by calling 1-800-772-1213. They cannot start the process online. They will need your death certificate, their birth certificate, proof of citizenship or legal residency, and their Social Security number. If your spouse is not a U.S. citizen, they may need additional documents.

Your spouse should claim as soon as possible after your death. There is no time limit to claim, but the sooner they contact Social Security, the sooner payments can begin. Social Security typically pays survivor benefits back to the month of death, even if the claim is filed months later.

What happens if your spouse remarries

If your spouse remarries before age 60, they lose the right to receive survivor benefits based on your record. This is a permanent loss — even if the new marriage ends, they cannot go back to claiming on your record.

If your spouse remarries at age 60 or later, they keep the right to survivor benefits based on your record. They can also claim benefits on their new spouse's record if that amount is higher. Social Security will pay whichever benefit is larger.

If your spouse was already claiming survivor benefits and then remarries before age 60, their payments stop. If they remarry at 60 or later, the payments continue.

Other family members who may receive survivor benefits

Your children under 19 (or 19 if still in high school full-time) can receive survivor benefits based on your record. A child who became disabled before age 22 can receive benefits for life. Each child receives a percentage of your primary insurance amount.

Your parents, if they were dependent on you for at least half their support, may also receive survivor benefits. They must be at least 62 years old. This is uncommon but possible if you were the main source of income for an elderly parent.

There is a family maximum: the total amount Social Security pays to all your survivors combined cannot exceed 150% to 180% of your primary insurance amount. If multiple family members claim, Social Security divides the family maximum among them, and each person's payment may be reduced.

How to report a death to Social Security

When someone dies, Social Security must be notified so that payments stop and survivor benefits can begin. Often the funeral home will report the death to Social Security, but you should confirm this has happened.

To report a death yourself, call 1-800-772-1213 or visit a local Social Security office in person. Have the person's Social Security number and death certificate ready. You do not need to wait for an official death certificate to be issued — you can report the death and provide the certificate later.

After you report the death, Social Security will stop the person's own benefits and begin processing survivor claims. If family members have not yet claimed survivor benefits, Social Security will send them information about how to do so.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my spouse claim survivor benefits if they are still working?

Yes. Unlike retirement benefits, survivor benefits do not have an earnings limit. Your spouse can work and receive the full survivor benefit at the same time. This applies at any age.

What if my spouse is not a U.S. citizen?

Non-citizens can receive survivor benefits, but they must meet additional requirements. They typically need to have been married to you for at least two years and be in the United States legally. Some non-citizens living outside the U.S. may also receive benefits, but the rules are complex. Your spouse should contact Social Security to discuss their specific situation.

Can my ex-spouse receive survivor benefits based on my record?

Yes, if the marriage lasted at least 10 years. An ex-spouse can claim survivor benefits at 60 (or any age if caring for your child under 16), just as a current spouse can. If your ex-spouse remarried, they can still claim on your record if the remarriage was after age 60.

What if I die before I start claiming Social Security?

Your family can still receive survivor benefits. Social Security calculates your primary insurance amount based on your earnings record, even though you never claimed. Your spouse and children can then claim survivor benefits based on that amount.

How long does it take to receive the first payment?

Social Security typically processes survivor claims within two to three weeks of receiving all required documents. The first payment is usually issued within one to two months. If documents are missing, the process takes longer.