SSA Survivor Benefits: Survivor Benefits vs. Widow Benefits

SSA Survivor Benefits: Social Security is something that members of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) often talk about. People often want to know the difference between survivor benefits and spouse benefits.

Because they are married or divorced to a retired worker, their partner’s benefits package can include up to 50% of their monthly retirement or disability pay.

On the other hand, when a Social Security beneficiary passes away, survivor payments are given to the surviving spouse or ex-spouse.

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Spousal Benefits Eligibility

To be eligible for spousal benefits, a spouse must be at least 62 years old and must be the primary caregiver of a child under 16 or a child who is receiving disability payments. Retired workers are only eligible for benefits if they are currently receiving retirement or disability payments.

Ex-spouses who are single and who were married for a minimum of ten years may be eligible as early as age 62. Even when the retired worker hasn’t started receiving benefits, the ex-spouse is nonetheless eligible to do so if the divorce occurred more than two years ago. Benefits to an ex-spouse have no bearing on benefits to the current spouse.

Spousal benefit amounts are limited to half of the primary insurance amount (PIA) that the spouse would get at full retirement age. However, the amount is lowered to 32.5% of the retired worker’s PIA if spousal benefits are requested at age 62.

The amount rises by 5% at full retirement age and by 1% for each year the spouse postpones filing for benefits. Postponing till after you reach full retirement age has no benefits.

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SSA Survivor Benefits

Spouses and qualified dependents of deceased workers who were eligible for Social Security retirement benefits are granted survivor payments.

What the deceased person may have received at full retirement age determines the amount of the pension. Benefit claims for widows or widowers begin at age 60; however, if benefits are requested before the survivor reaches full retirement age, the amount will be lowered.

The survivor is entitled to 100% of the benefits that the dead worker sought at full retirement age. The survivor’s payments are reduced if the deceased makes early claims.