Understanding the Rules: Who is Eligible?

When a person who has worked and paid Social Security taxes passes away, their family members may be eligible to receive payments based on their earnings record. These payments are called survivor benefits. Think of them as a form of life insurance that a worker earns throughout their career. The purpose is to provide ongoing financial support to the family members who depended on the deceased’s income.

It’s important to distinguish survivor benefits from spousal benefits. Spousal benefits are paid to the husband or wife of a living retiree. Survivor benefits, on the other hand, are paid to the family after the retiree has passed away. The eligibility rules are specific and depend on your age, your relationship to the deceased, and other factors. Let’s break down who can receive these important benefits.

Official rules on spousal and survivor benefits are on the Social Security Administration (SSA) website. For food and utility assistance programs, visit Benefits.gov.

Widows and Widowers

The most common recipients of survivor benefits are surviving spouses. A widow or widower may be eligible for benefits if they meet certain age requirements. You can start receiving reduced survivor benefits as early as age 60. If you are disabled, you can start receiving them as early as age 50. To receive the full benefit amount, you must wait until you reach your full retirement age, which is typically between 66 and 67, depending on the year you were born.

The amount you receive is a percentage of the deceased spouse’s benefit. If you wait until your full retirement age, you will generally receive 100% of what your spouse was receiving (or would have been eligible to receive). If you claim earlier, the benefit amount is permanently reduced. For example, claiming at age 60 might result in receiving about 71.5% of the full benefit.

Surviving Divorced Spouses

Many people are surprised to learn that a divorced spouse may also be eligible for survivor benefits. This is a critical rule that provides a safety net for individuals who may have spent many years out of the workforce to raise a family. To qualify, your marriage must have lasted for at least 10 years. If you are a surviving divorced spouse, you can claim benefits on your ex-spouse’s record under the same age rules as a widow or widower (starting at age 60, or 50 if disabled).

An important detail is that your eligibility is independent of whether your ex-spouse remarried. Your claim will not affect the benefits received by their current spouse or any other family members. As long as you meet the 10-year marriage rule and have not remarried before age 60 (or 50 if disabled), you may be entitled to these benefits.

Surviving Spouses Caring for a Young Child

There is a special rule for a surviving spouse of any age who is caring for the deceased’s child. If that child is under age 16 or disabled and receiving benefits on the deceased’s record, the surviving parent can receive survivor benefits. In this case, there is no age requirement for the parent. These benefits are intended to help the parent support the child without having to work full-time. The parent’s benefits will stop once the youngest child turns 16, unless the child is disabled. However, the parent may become eligible again for widow or widower’s benefits later on at age 60.

Unmarried Children

The deceased’s children can also receive survivor benefits. Unmarried children can get benefits if they are under age 18 (or up to age 19 if they are a full-time student in elementary or secondary school). Children who were disabled before age 22 can also receive benefits for as long as their disability continues. These benefits provide crucial support for a child’s upbringing and education after losing a parent.

Dependent Parents

In some less common situations, the dependent parents of a deceased worker may be eligible for survivor benefits. To qualify, the parent must be age 62 or older and must have been receiving at least half of their financial support from their deceased child. Their eligibility also depends on them not remarrying after the worker’s death.