Social Security Survivor Benefits Calculator
Estimate a widow or widower benefit by claiming age, then compare it with the survivor’s own monthly retirement benefit.
Estimated payable benefit
$1,859Survivor record at selected age
$1,859Early-claim reduction
28.5%This is a planning estimate. Claiming by month, deemed-filing rules, family maximums, government pensions, disability, remarriage, and SSA record details can change the payment.
Planning with two benefit records
Survivor and retirement benefits have different claiming rules. Some people can start one benefit and later switch to the other. The calculator shows the larger current monthly amount but does not optimize a switching strategy.
Eligibility can differ for remarriage, divorced spouses, disability, dependent children, government pensions, and family maximums. Confirm your exact options with SSA.
Survivor benefit questions
What percentage of a spouse's Social Security does a widow receive?
A surviving spouse can receive up to 100% of the deceased worker's eligible benefit at survivor full retirement age. Starting at age 60 can reduce the survivor amount to 71.5%.
Can a widow receive both benefits?
SSA generally pays the higher of the survivor's own retirement benefit or the survivor benefit, not both full amounts added together.
Can survivor benefits start at age 60?
Yes, a widow or widower can generally start survivor benefits at age 60, or at age 50 if disabled and otherwise eligible. Starting before survivor FRA reduces the monthly amount.
Sources
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