• • Widows and widowers (including divorced spouses)
  • Children of the deceased
  • Dependent parents

   Spouses

  A surviving spouse may be eligible if:

  • They are age 60 or older, or age 50–59 if disabled.
  • They were married for at least 9 months before the worker’s death.
  • They did not remarry before age 60 (or age 50 if disabled).
  • They are any age if caring for the deceased’s child who is under 16 or disabled.

  Divorced Spouses

  A surviving divorced spouse may qualify if:

  • The marriage lasted at least 10 years.
  • They meet the age and disability criteria similar to current spouses.
  • They did not remarry before age 60 (or age 50 if disabled).
  • They may also qualify if caring for a child of the deceased who is under 16 or disabled.

  Children

  Unmarried children of the deceased may be eligible if:

  • They are under age 18, or up to 19 if still in high school (K–12).
  • They are any age if they became disabled before age 22.
  • Under certain conditions, stepchildren, adopted children, grandchildren, and step-grandchildren may also qualify.

   

  Please note, children who receive Survivor Benefits are eligible due to age, not disability. Therefore, children who “lose” survivor benefits at age 18 should apply for DAC benefits off the same parent’s record. This transition is not automatic and requires a new application with Social Security.

• Spouses can receive up to 100% of the deceased’s benefit if they wait until their Full Retirement Age (FRA).
• Children typically receive 75% of the deceased’s benefit.
• A one-time lump-sum death payment of $255 may be available to a surviving spouse or minor child

The Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) is a key concept in determining Social Security survivor benefits. Here’s how it works in this context:

The PIA is the amount a person would receive if they began receiving retirement benefits at their full retirement age. It is calculated based on the deceased worker’s lifetime earnings that were subject to Social Security taxes.

How PIA Affects Survivor Benefits

Survivor benefits are typically calculated as a percentage of the deceased worker’s PIA:

• Widow(er) at full retirement age or older: 100% of the deceased’s PIA.
• Widow(er) aged 60 to full retirement age: 71.5% to 99% of the PIA, depending on age.
• Disabled widow(er) aged 50–59: 71.5% of the PIA.
• Widow(er) of any age caring for a child under 16 or disabled: 75% of the PIA.
• Children under 18 (or up to 19 if still in high school): 75% of the PIA.
• Dependent parents: Up to 82.5% for one parent, or 75% each if there are two

There is a family maximum that limits the total amount of benefits that can be paid to all survivors on one worker’s record. If the total exceeds this limit, each person’s benefit is reduced proportionally.

Special Considerations

• If the deceased was receiving reduced retirement benefits, the survivor’s benefit may be limited to the greater of 82.5% of the deceased’s PIA or the amount the deceased was receiving.
• Survivor benefits may be reduced if the recipient is working and under full retirement age.

Eligibility Requirements

• The deceased must have worked long enough under Social Security (usually 10 years).
• Survivors must meet age or dependency criteria.

 Earnings Limits

If you’re under FRA and working while receiving survivor benefits, your benefits may be reduced if your earnings exceed certain limits.