Social Security Survivor Benefits: Which Check Do You Keep?

When a spouse dies, Social Security is the last thing anyone wants to think about. But the choices you make in the months afterward can change your monthly income for the rest of your life.

Having helped people through this many times, here’s what I’d want every widow and widower to know about Social Security survivor benefits.

You get one check, not two

As a survivor, you can take your own retirement benefit or your spouse’s benefit, whichever is higher. They aren’t added together. If your spouse had the larger benefit, you can step up to it.

Age matters when you start Social Security survivor benefits

Survivor benefits can begin as early as age 60 (50 if you’re disabled). At 60, you’d receive about 71.5% of your spouse’s benefit. Wait until your survivor full retirement age, somewhere between 66 and 67, and you get 100% of that amount. Unlike your own retirement benefit, the survivor benefit doesn’t keep growing after that point.

It’s based on what your spouse was actually getting

Many people assume the survivor benefit is whatever their spouse would have received at 67. It’s not. You step into the amount your spouse was collecting when they died, including increases from waiting past full retirement age and yearly cost-of-living raises. If your spouse claimed early, your benefit may be smaller.

You may be able to switch later

You can start one benefit now and move to the other down the road. For example, you might take your own reduced benefit at 62 and switch to the survivor benefit at full retirement age. Or the reverse: take the survivor benefit first, then switch to your own at 70. The right answer depends on the two dollar amounts, your health, and your other income.

⭐ 5 Star Tip – Your Paycheck Can Shrink Your Survivor Check 

If you’re under full retirement age and earn more than $24,480 in 2026, part of your survivor benefit is temporarily withheld. Once you reach full retirement age, the limit no longer applies, so timing your start date around your work income can matter.

A few other things:

• There’s a one-time $255 death payment for a surviving spouse. You have two years to apply.

• If your spouse was already receiving benefits, the payment received after the month of death has to be returned.

Divorced? You may still qualify

If your former spouse has died, you may be eligible for survivor benefits on their record. You’d need to have been married at least 10 years, be at least 60, and not have remarried before 60. Remarrying after 60 doesn’t end your eligibility. This is different from the divorced spouse benefit, which applies while your ex is still living.

Honestly, this is a lot to cover. Your spouse’s claiming age, your own benefit, your work income and your taxes all affect each other, and some choices are hard to undo. If you find yourself in a situation like this, feel free to reach out and see how I can help.

👉 Are you looking for a fee-only advisor to work with? Book your free discovery call and get started.

‍

John Piershale, CFP®, AEP®

Fee-Only and Fiduciary Advisor

NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor

‍

This article is for educational purposes only and is not legal or tax advice. Please consult an attorney or tax advisor regarding your personal situation. Piershale Wealth Management, LLC is an Investment Adviser registered with the State of IL and in other jurisdictions where exempt from registration. All views, expressions, and opinions included in this communication are subject to change. This communication is not intended as an offer or solicitation to buy, hold or sell any financial instrument or investment advisory services. Any information provided has been obtained from sources considered reliable, but we do not guarantee the accuracy or the completeness of any description of securities, markets or developments mentioned. The information contain

ed herein is intended to be used for educational purposes only and is not exhaustive. Diversification and/or any strategy that may be discussed does not guarantee against investment losses but are intended to help manage risk and return. If applicable, historical discussions and/or opinions are not predictive of future events. The content is presented in good faith and has been drawn from sources believed to be reliable. The content is not intended to be legal, tax or financial advice. Please consult a legal, tax or financial professional for information specific to your individual situation.