How Social Security Survivor Benefits Work

Losing a family member can be a devastating, life-altering event. Not only may you grieve the loss of that person, but you could also be faced with new financial challenges, especially if that person was contributing to the family income. To help in situations like these, the Social Security Administration offers survivor benefits to qualifying family members of an eligible worker who passes.  

Surviving spouses and ex-spouses, dependent children and dependent parents may all be eligible to receive Social Security Survivor benefits; however, eligibility depends on a variety of factors, including the age of the recipient, the recipient’s relationship to the deceased and other factors (like whether the recipient has a disability).  

We’ll explain how Social Security survivor benefits work by breaking down the varying qualifiers and how they impact what you’d receive. 

What are Social Security survivor benefits? 

As you work, you pay into Social Security and earn work credits toward your eligibility to receive benefits. In 2024, you earn one credit for every $1,730 of income, and you can earn up to four credits per year. To qualify for retirement benefits, you need at least 40 work credits (or 10 years of work). But if you die, your family may be able to receive your benefits in the form of survivor benefits.  

The number of credits needed to provide benefits for surviving family members depends on a worker’s age when they die. The younger a person is when they die, the fewer credits they need for their family members to receive benefits.  

Survivor benefits come in two forms: a one-time, lump-sum payment of $255 and a monthly payment. What you’re eligible to receive depends on several factors.  

Who qualifies for Social Security survivor benefits?  

Certain family members may be entitled to Social Security death benefits depending on their relationship to the deceased and a few other factors. Here’s who may be eligible:  

Spouses and ex-spouses 

If your spouse passes, you’re eligible to receive a benefit based on their qualification for Social Security benefits. How much, though, depends on:  

• Your age. If you’re between age 60 (or age 50 if you have a disability) and the full retirement age, you can receive a portion of your spouse’s Social Security benefit. If you’ve reached full retirement age, you’re able to get your spouse’s full Social Security benefit.  

• Whether you’re caring for dependent children. If you’re caring for the deceased’s child aged 16 and under (or a child with a disability), you may be eligible to receive a portion of your spouse’s benefit—regardless of your age.  

If you’ve been married in the past and are now divorced, you may also be eligible to receive your former spouse’s benefit if:  

• Your marriage lasted at least 10 years and you’re age 60 or older (or age 50 – 59 with a disability); or 

• You’re caring for your ex-spouse’s child (who is also your child). 

Dependent children 

Unmarried children under 18 and dependent adult children with a disability that began before age 22 are also eligible to receive Social Security benefits from a parent who has passed. In some circumstances, this can also apply to stepchildren, grandchildren or step-grandchildren. 

Parents 

Natural parents of a deceased worker (or stepparents and adoptive parents that became legal parents before the deceased reached age 16) may also be eligible to receive benefits if they were dependent upon the deceased for support. One or both parents may be eligible if all of the following apply:  

• The parent is age 62 or older. 

• The parent can provide documentation that at least half of his or her support came from the person who died at the time of their death. 

• The parent cannot receive a Social Security benefit in an amount equal to or more than the survivor benefit. 

• The parent does not marry after the time of their child’s death.  

How much are Social Security survivor benefits?  

Ultimately, how much you’ll receive in survivor benefits will be dependent upon the deceased’s lifetime earnings. From there, the Social Security Administration uses details about your situation to determine the percentage of the benefit you can receive. The maximum possible benefit a family may be eligible to receive is about 150 to 180 percent of the deceased’s benefit, but more often benefits end up being close to the full benefit amount or slightly less. 

According to the Social Security Administration, the most typical benefits people receive are:  

• Widow(er) at full retirement age: 100 percent of the deceased’s benefit amount 

• Widow(er) age 60 or older but under the full retirement age: 71.5 to 99 percent of the deceased’s benefit amount 

• Widow(er) (any age) with a child younger than 16: 75 percent of the deceased’s benefit amount 

• A dependent child of the deceased: 75 percent of the deceased’s benefit amount 

• Parent of a deceased worker: 1 parent—82.5 percent, 2 parents—75 percent each 

Factors that can impact your survivor benefits 

Even if you’re already receiving benefits, there are some life changes that can impact how much you can receive in benefits—or if you’re able to receive them at all. Here are some situations you’ll want to be aware of that can impact your survivor benefits:  

You remarry 

Depending on how old you are when you remarry, you may no longer be able to receive survivor benefits. If you remarry after age 60, you’ll generally be able to continue to receive your former spouse’s survivor benefits. But if you remarry before you turn 60 (or 50 if you have a disability), you’re no longer able to receive your former spouse’s survivor benefits as long as you stay married.  

You’re working 

You’ll still be eligible for benefits if you’re working, but depending on your age and how much you make, your benefits may be reduced.

If you have not yet reached the full retirement age, $1 will be deducted from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn over the annual limit. In 2024, the annual limit is $22,320.  

In the year that you reach full retirement age, $1 will be deducted from your benefit payments for every $3 you earn over the annual limit. In 2024, that limit is $59,520.  

Once you reach full retirement age, you can earn any income without your benefits being impacted.  

You reach full retirement age 

If you qualify, you’re eligible to collect your own Social Security benefits as soon as you turn age 62, but once you reach the full retirement age, you may be eligible to receive more in retirement benefits than you are on survivor benefits. Though you may not necessarily have to switch, doing so might result in a higher benefit payment.  

You receive a pension 

If you worked for a government employer or agency that wasn’t required to withhold Social Security taxes and you’re collecting a pension from that employer, your benefit may be reduced.  

Can I get both my Social Security and survivor benefits? 

In short—yes, but you can’t collect them both at the same time. You’ll want to carefully coordinate which benefit you’ll take and when. The SSA can give limited guidance, but this is really where a financial advisor can be helpful. Your advisor can show you the impacts of different claiming strategies and help you design a claiming strategy based on your personal situation that meets your needs.  

At what age do survivor benefits stop?  

Survivor benefits for a parent caring for a minor child go until that child turns 16, but widow(er) benefits continue as long as you live. Dependent children, however, will receive survivor benefits only until they turn 18. (A child can also continue to be eligible up to age 19 if enrolled full time in an elementary or secondary school, and a disabled child may be eligible to get benefits for life.)  

Financially covering your future 

Unexpected life events—like a death in the family—can have a serious impact on a family’s financial situation. Resources like Social Security survivor benefits can help you continue to get by in light of these changes. However, Social Security is only one resource available to you—and often, it may not be enough to cover the lifestyle you had planned.  

Protecting your income is one of the best ways to be prepared for the unexpected events life throws at you. A healthy emergency fund, life insurance, disability insurance and other assets can allow you to continue living the life you’d planned, even when things don’t go according to plan.  

By getting to know you and your financial goals, a Northwestern Mutual financial advisor can help you determine how much protection you’ll need and how you’ll cover it. Though many people think about financial planning in terms of accumulating wealth, protecting it is an equally important part of the equation. Our advisors can also show you how resources like Social Security survivor benefits—and other financial safeguards—can work together and give you the flexibility you need to adapt and still be able to achieve all you wanted to in life, even as things change.