The amount you will get is a percentage of the deceased's basic Social Security benefit. The percentage depends on your age and the type of benefit you are eligible for. A widow or widower, full retirement age or older, will receive 100 percent of the deceased's basic Social Security benefit.
A widow or widower can receive full benefits at age 65 or older (if born before January 2, 1940) or reduced benefits as early as age 60. The age for receiving full benefits is increasing for widows and widowers born after 1939 until it reaches age 67 for people born in 1962 and later.
|
Year of Birth
Note: Persons born on January 1 of any
year should refer to the previous year.
|
Full Retirement
Age
|
Age 60
Reduction Months
|
Monthly % Reduction*
|
|
1939 or earlier
|
65
|
60
|
.475
|
|
1940
|
65 and 2 months
|
62
|
.460
|
|
1941
|
65 and 4 months
|
64
|
.445
|
|
1942
|
65 and 6 months
|
66
|
.432
|
|
1943
|
65 and 8 months
|
68
|
.419
|
|
1944
|
65 and 10 months
|
70
|
.407
|
|
1945--1956
|
66
|
72
|
.396
|
|
1957
|
66 and 2 months
|
74
|
.385
|
|
1958
|
66 and 4 months
|
76
|
.375
|
|
1959
|
66 and 6 months
|
78
|
.365
|
|
1960
|
66 and 8 months
|
80
|
.356
|
|
1961
|
66 and 10 months
|
82
|
.348
|
|
1962 and later
|
67
|
84
|
.339
|
| * Monthly reduction percentages are approximate due to rounding. The total % reduction for anyone who receives benefits at age 60 is always 28.50. |
Note: Persons born on January 1 of any year should refer to the full retirement age for the previous year.
For more information on widow(er)s benefits, see Survivors Benefits.
|
www.socialsecurity.gov
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