One of the lesser known Social Security benefits is that of benefits for either a widow or widower. As is the case with all Social Security survivor’s, retirement or disability programs, you must meet certain criteria to qualify and receive benefits.
Social Security estimates there are about 5 million widows and widowers who are receiving monthly Social Security benefits based on their deceased spouse’s earnings record. Some of the rules that apply to widow or widower benefits include:
- Widows or widowers can received benefits on their deceased spouse’s earnings record as early as age 60 for reduced benefits, but if they wait until full retirement age, which is based on the year you were born, they are entitled to full benefits.
- Widow or widower benefits can begin as early as age 50 if, the widow or widower is disabled and the disability started before or within seven years of their spouse’s death. Social Security will make the ultimate decision of whether someone is disabled, but the agency uses the same criteria for its other disability programs such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
- If a widow or widower, who is caring for a deceased spouse’s children, receives Social Security benefits, he or she is still eligible if their disability starts before those payments end or within seven years after they end.
If a widow or widower remarries after they reach age 60 or age 50 if they are found disabled, the remarriage will not impact their eligibility for survivor’s benefits. A widow or widower, who has not remarried, can receive survivor’s benefits at any age if she or he takes care of the deceased parent for any child who is under age 16.
