Survivor benefits (for widows, widowers, ex-spouses, dependent children) are a key part of the Social Security system.
There is no fixed table with one dollar amount that fits all; instead, benefits vary depending on the deceased worker’s benefit history, when the survivor claims, and other factors.
In 2025, the rules are largely consistent with past years, but cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) and legislative changes may affect the payable amounts.
What percentage of the deceased worker’s benefit can a surviving spouse receive?
Survivor benefits are typically a percentage of the deceased worker’s “primary insurance amount” (PIA). SSA states that:
- A surviving spouse may begin receiving benefits as early as age 60 (or 50 if disabled).
- At age 60, the benefit is reduced. For example, at age 60, you may receive about 71.5 % of the deceased spouse’s benefit. (SSA uses 71.5 % as a base for early claiming.)
- As you wait longer, the benefit increases. For example, over 75 % at age 61, over 80 % at age 63, over 90 % at age 65.
- If the survivor waits to claim at his or her full retirement age (FRA) for survivors, the benefit may reach 100 % of the deceased worker’s benefit.
Thus the “chart” is effectively this sliding scale: early claim = reduced percentage, later claim = closer to full amount.
What is full retirement age for survivors in 2025?
The full retirement age for survivors is different than for retirement benefits.
For those born between 1945 and 1956, the survivor full age is 66. It gradually increases to 67 for people born in 1962 or later.
If a surviving spouse claims at that age or later, they are eligible to receive 100 % of the deceased’s PIA.
How do children and disabled survivors qualify?
Besides spouses, certain children are eligible for survivors benefits:
- Unmarried children under age 18 (or up to 19 if still in high school).
- Children disabled before age 22 may qualify even after 18.
- In cases where the surviving spouse cares for the deceased’s child younger than 16 or disabled, the spouse may receive benefits at any age.
These benefits are based on the worker’s earnings record, similar to the spouse benefit.
How does the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) affect survivors in 2025?
All benefits, including survivors’ benefits, receive COLA adjustments. In 2025, Social Security and SSI benefits were increased by 2.5 %.
That means survivor benefits payable in 2025 are roughly 2.5 % higher than their 2024 level, all else equal.
What is the lump-sum death benefit in 2025?
In addition to monthly survivor benefits, SSA offers a $255 lump-sum death payment paid to a surviving spouse (or, if none, to a child) if certain requirements are met.
This amount has been fixed for decades ($255), though there have been proposals to increase or index it.
How do work or pension credits affect survivor benefits?
When computing the benefit, SSA considers how much the deceased worker had earned and whether they had filed for retirement or disability benefits.
The survivor’s benefit is tied to that PIA, which is based on the worker’s earnings history and contributions.
If the deceased worker had not claimed, the survivor benefit may be based on what the worker would have received, assuming they claimed at full retirement age.
Additionally, any pension or government employment that was not covered by Social Security might reduce the survivor benefit under rules like the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO), though recent legislation (Social Security Fairness Act) is phasing out some of those reductions.
What should prospective survivors check or estimate?
To estimate a survivor benefit in 2025:
- Determine the deceased worker’s PIA (the benefit they would get at full retirement age).
- Apply the survivor percentage based on your age when you claim (e.g. 71.5 % at age 60, up to 100 % at FRA).
- Adjust for COLA (2.5 % in 2025).
- Check whether any pension offsets or noncovered earnings apply (WEP/GPO rules).
- Consider whether children or care-for-child provisions apply, which allow earlier or full benefit eligibility.
Because SSA does not publish a simple dollar chart for every survivor age, following these steps and using SSA’s online calculators or benefit statement is the best method to see what you might receive.
