Social Security survivor’s benefits can provide critical income after a loved one is lost—but too many eligible Americans are unaware they can collect them. In 2025, husbands, wives, and even dependent children, as well as even dependent parents, can be eligible if the deceased individual contributed to Social Security. The survivor benefits allow qualifying individuals to afford basic necessities after the death of their loved ones.
Social Security Survivor Benefits 2025
These payments are helpful for those survivors whose only breadwinner died unexpectedly. So, if you are someone who recently lost your loved one and want full details on the Social Security Survivor Benefits then this article is for you. In this article, we will explore all the important information about the survivor benefits including its eligibility criteria, amount, applying process and how it is calculated.
Social Security Survivor Benefits – Overview
| Article On | Social Security Survivor Benefits |
| Country | United States of America |
| Department | Social Security Administration |
| Program Name | Social Security Survivor Benefits |
| Beneficiaries | Eligible surviving spouse, children and dependent parents |
| Amount | As per eligibility |
| Payment Frequency | Monthly |
| Category | Government Aid |
| Official Website | ssa.gov |
What is Social Security Survivor Benefits?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers survivor benefits to certain family members of a dead employee each month. The deceased must have accrued sufficient Social Security credits during their work history in order to be eligible.
The goal of Social Security Survivor payments is to help establish a safety net that goes beyond savings and life insurance. Dependents parents, widowers, widows, surviving children and some divorced spouses may be eligible for these survivor benefits.
Who Qualifies for the Social Security Survivor Benefits in 2025?
A survivor’s late loved one must have accrued a specific amount of Social Security “credits” during their working years in order to be eligible for Social Security Survivor payments. Full Survivor benefits are available to everyone who has worked for ten years.
Younger individuals with fewer work credits might forfeit some survivor benefits, but not all. The benefits are calculated on the basis of the deceased individual’s earnings, and thus the more an individual worked and contributed to Social Security, the bigger the survivor’s benefits will be.
In order to get survivor’s benefits from Social Security, you must qualify in some way, and each has detailed limitations. Below are some of the minimum requirements for each category:
Spouses and former spouses
A spouse or former spouse may qualify if:
- They are aged 60 or above, or aged between 50 and 59 if they are disabled.
- They were married for minimum 9 months when their spouse died.
- They do not remarry until they aged 60 (age 50 if they are disabled).
Former spouses who were married for 10 or more years, as well as certain legitimate non-marital legal relationships, can qualify for the Social Security Survivor benefits.
Also, spouses may be eligible no matter what their age or how long they were married. A common example is where they are taking care of a child of the decedent.
Children
Children of a deceased individual may qualify if they are not married and are:
- Aged 17 and under it, or
- Aged between 18 and 19 and studying in a full time school (K–12), or
- Any age if they became disabled when they were 21 or below it.
In some situations, the Social Security Administration also pays survivor benefits to stepchildren, married children, adopted children, grandkids, and step-grandkids.
- Adult Children with a Disability
Adult children who have a disability that occurred before they turned 22 can qualify for the Social Security Survivor Benefits if their parent has passed away.
- Dependent Parents
Dependent parents could be eligible if they are 62 or older and their child who passed away financially supported them.
Social Security Survivor Benefits Amount
- Spouses: A surviving spouse is eligible to receive 100% of the deceased’s benefit if they are at full retirement age, which is age 67 if they were born after 1960. 71.5% to 99% of such benefit may be awarded to a surviving spouse who is between the ages of 60 and full retirement age. 71.5% may be awarded to a surviving spouse who is between the ages of 50 and 59. 75% can be given to a surviving spouse, regardless of age, who is raising a kid under the age of sixteen.
- Divorced spouses: If they were married to their ex-spouse for ten years or more, divorced spouses who have not remarried may be entitled to benefits at the same rates as surviving spouses.
- Children: 75% of the deceased’s benefit may be distributed to children under the age of 18 (or 19, if still enrolled in elementary or secondary school) and to adult dependent children who are disabled.
- Dependent Parent: 82.5% of the benefit may be given to a surviving dependent parent. Two dependent parent survivors are each entitled to 75% of the total.
How Can You Apply for the Social Security Survivor Benefits?
Applications for Social Security retirement benefits can be submitted online, however those for Survivor benefits cannot be submitted online. Instead, you need to call, visit, or call your local Social Security office.
If you are applying and receiving no current Social Security benefits, you must furnish the agency with some information and documentation about your claim. This usually requires verification of your late relative’s death, your Social Security number and the deceased’s, your birth and marriage certificates, the last tax return filed by the deceased and your bank information for benefits. You can still apply if you are unable to find everything—the Social Security Administration will provide you with any missing information you need.
How is Social Security Survivor Benefits Calculated?
Even while the lump-sum death benefit is currently set at $255, the amount of the monthly benefit payments your survivors might be eligible for will depend on your average lifetime earnings and several other factors.
Depending on their age, relationship to the deceased, whether they are receiving Social Security themselves, and other limitations, the survivor may get anywhere from 70% to 100% of the benefits that the worker would have received in retirement.
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