Survivors Benefits | SSA (2024)

FAQs

What benefits do survivors get? ›

We base your survivors benefit amount on the earnings of the person who died. The more they paid into Social Security, the higher your benefits would be. 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.

According to the Social Security Administration, the average survivor benefit paid in December 2023 was $1,501.60 per month.

Surviving spouse, at full retirement age or older, generally gets 100% of the worker's basic benefit amount. Surviving spouse, age 60 or older, but under full retirement age, gets between 71% and 99% of the worker's basic benefit amount.

How Long Do You Receive Social Security Survivor Benefits? Social Security survivor benefits are payable to the surviving spouse for the remainder of their life. Restrictions apply for divorced spouses eligible to receive benefits.

If you or the insured worker was granted a tax exemption as a member of a religious group, whose members oppose insurance plans such as Social Security, you may not be eligible for survivor benefits.

The Allowance for the Survivor is a monthly payment you can get if: you are age 60 to 64. you live in Canada. your spouse or common-law partner has died and since their death you have not remarried or become a common-law partner to another person.

However, not everyone can collect survivor benefits. Eligibility typically depends on several factors, including the deceased worker's earned Social Security credits, the survivor's relationship to the deceased, as well as their age or disability status.

The short version: Spousal benefits are available to retired workers' spouses or ex-spouses. They pay up to 50% of a worker's monthly retirement or disability benefit. Survivor benefits are paid to a surviving spouse or surviving ex-spouse when a Social Security beneficiary dies.

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. In addition, a one-time lump sum death payment of $255 can be made to a qualifying spouse or child if they meet certain requirements.

If you qualify for your own retirement and spouse's benefits, we will always pay your own benefits first. If your benefit amount as a spouse is higher than your own retirement benefit, you will get a combination of the two benefits that equals the higher amount.

What is the difference between the death benefit and the survivor benefit? ›

The death benefit is a one-time payment to, or on behalf of, the estate of a deceased CPP contributor. The survivor's pension is a monthly benefit paid to the surviving spouse or common-law partner of a deceased contributor.

Social Security survivors benefits are paid to widows, widowers, and dependents of eligible workers. This benefit is particularly important for young families with children.

Your spouse, children, and parents could be eligible for benefits based on your earnings. You may receive survivors benefits when a family member dies. You and your family could be eligible for benefits based on the earnings of a worker who died. The deceased person must have worked long enough to qualify for benefits.

The Survivor Benefit Plan allows a retiree to ensure, after death, a continuous lifetime annuity for their dependents. The annuity, based on a percentage of retired pay, pays eligible survivors an inflation-adjusted monthly income.

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. In addition, a one-time lump sum death payment of $255 can be made to a qualifying spouse or child if they meet certain requirements.