What happens to your Social Security benefits if your spouse dies?

And there is no effect on eligibility for survivor benefits if you remarry at or past 60 (50 if disabled). The survivor benefit is generally calculated on the benefit your late spouse was receiving from Social Security at the time of death (or was entitled to receive, based on age and earnings history, if he or she had not yet claimed benefits).

How is the survivor benefit calculated when a spouse dies?

The survivor benefit is generally calculated on the benefit your late spouse was receiving from Social Security at the time of death (or was entitled to receive, based on age and earnings history, if he or she had not yet claimed benefits).

Can a divorced spouse receive Social Security benefits?

You cannot receive spouse’s benefits unless your spouse is receiving his or her retirement benefits (except for divorced spouses).

When is a spouse eligible for Social Security benefits?

If the deceased was already receiving Social Security benefits, the surviving spouse is eligible to collect 100% of the benefits as long as they are at least 60 and they were married to the deceased for at least nine months. There are exceptions:

Can a widow collect on her late spouse’s Social Security?

If you apply on the basis of caring for a child who is under 16 or disabled, you can collect 75 percent of the late spouse’s benefit, regardless of your age. You will not receive a survivor benefit in addition to your own retirement benefit; Social Security will pay the higher of the two amounts.

Do you get widow’s benefits if your ex spouse dies?

If your ex-spouse died after you divorced, you may still quality for widow’s benefits. You’ll find information about that in a note at the bottom of the website. Visit Retirement Planner: If You Are Divorced today to learn whether you’re eligible for benefits on your ex-spouse’s record. That could mean a considerable amount of monthly income.

When to apply for survivor benefits after a spouse dies?

You can apply for survivor benefits as early as age 50 if you are disabled and the disability occurred within seven years of your spouse’s death. If you are caring for children from the marriage who are under 16 or disabled, you can apply at any age. Whether you have wed again can also affect eligibility.