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UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL SECURITY

Social Security Benefits

for Widows and Widowers
FAQ

mfs.com

With increased life expectancy and years spent in retirement, Social Overview
Security benefits are likely to make up a growing share of your retirement What are the requirements for receiving
income. If you are a widow, widower or dependent of a worker who has a survivors benefit?
died, you may be eligible to receive Social Security survivors benefits. ■ You are eligible for a survivors benefit
Discuss with your financial advisor or investment professional whether you even if you never worked.
may be eligible for these benefits, and if you are, what steps you can take to ■ You must have been married to your
current spouse for at least the nine
maximize them as part of your overall retirement plan. For more information
months before they passed away (ten
on how eligible children and other dependents can claim survivors benefits, years if divorced).1
see the Social Security Administration’s publication “Benefits for Children,” ■ You must be age 60 or older (50 if you
available online. are disabled) or have a “child-in-care.”2

WIDOW(ER)S BENEFITS OVERVIEW

Minimum benefit 71.5% at age 60 (50 if you are disabled)

Maximum benefit Limited to what the deceased would receive if they were still alive

Age at which the deceased claimed Social Security retirement

benefits. If the deceased was receiving disability benefits, the
Survivors benefit amount based on survivor benefit is based on the deceased’s disability benefit.
Note: The greater the deceased’s benefit, the greater
the survivors benefit.
Age you claim the survivors benefit.
Note: The age at which you claim your spousal or retirement
Survivors benefit percentage based on
benefit does not impact the percentage you receive through the
survivors benefit.

1
See MFS piece “Social Security Divorced Spouse Benefits” for more information on options available to divorced spouses.
2
Child-in-care benefits may be available to a current spouse or ex-spouse who is taking care of a child of the deceased who is under the age of 16 or disabled. Child-in-care benefits
are calculated differently than the survivors benefits mentioned in this piece. Please be aware that the earnings limit applies to any benefit received by the parent before their Full
Retirement Age. Please see the Social Security publication “Benefits for Children” for more information.

NOT FDIC INSURED • MAY LOSE VALUE • NO BANK GUARANTEE

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Social Security Benefits for Widows and Widowers FAQ

Calculating survivors benefits

How are survivors benefits calculated?
In order to receive a survivors benefit, you must be age 60 or older (50 if you are disabled).3 When you receive the benefit, the percentage
you receive is based on your age when you apply for the survivors benefit and the amount you receive is based on the deceased’s Social
Security benefit.
What percentage of the deceased’s benefit can I receive as a surviving spouse? 4
It depends on your age when you apply for the survivors benefit. The minimum you can receive is 71.5% of the deceased’s FRA benefit
if you are age 60 (50 if you are disabled) when you claim the survivors benefit. The maximum you can receive as a surviving spouse is
up to 100% of the deceased’s benefit.5 If you worked, you can receive an amount that equals the greater of the survivors benefit or your
retirement benefit.

Survivors percentages by widow(er)’s claiming age

 Full Retirement Age (FRA) 66 100% 100%
 Full Retirement Age (FRA) 67 95.3% 95.9%
90.5% 91.9%
85.8% 83.7% 87.8% FRA for survivors
81.0% 79.6% benefit is age 66 for
76.3% 75.6%
71.5% 71.5%
anyone born 1945
to1956. It increases
15.3%
by two months for
every year from
1957 to 1961. FRA
is age 67 for anyone
5.8% born 1962 or later.
3.2%

60 years 61 years 62 years 63 years 64 years 65 years 66 years 67+ years

Age at which you claim the survivors benefit5

Can I receive the maximum survivors benefit even if I receive a reduced spousal or retirement benefit?
Yes, even if you are receiving a reduced retirement or spousal benefit, you are still eligible for the maximum survivors benefit if you are FRA
or older when you apply for the survivors benefit.5 After your spouse passes away, you are eligible for an amount that equals the greater of
your retirement benefit or survivors benefit off your spouse.
Hypothetical example
Frances applied for Social Security at age 62 and was receiving a reduced spousal benefit. Frances is now age 67 and Frances's
spouse recently passed away. Because Frances has reached FRA when applying for the survivors benefit, Frances is eligible for 100%
of the deceased spouse's retirement benefit.
Will I automatically receive the survivors benefit?
If you are not receiving any Social Security benefit, you will have to apply in person for the survivors benefit. If you are receiving retirement
or disability benefits on your own record, you will need to apply in person for the survivors benefits. If you are receiving a spousal benefit off
your spouse and you are FRA or older, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will automatically switch you to the survivors benefit upon
notification of death. Under most circumstances, the funeral home will report the person’s death to the SSA. If you are currently receiving a
spousal benefit off your spouse and you are younger than FRA, the SSA will stop the (excess) spousal benefit, and you will need to apply for
the survivors benefit. Please see MFS® “Social Security Spousal FAQ” for more information on excess spousal benefits.
3
I f there are children under the age of 16 or disabled before the age of 22, a child-in-care benefit may be available to the surviving spouse if they are taking care of the deceased’s biological or
adopted child or (in certain cases) stepchild. The earnings limit may apply. Please refer to the SSA publication “Survivors Benefits” for more information.
4
The earnings limit applies to any benefit received before Full Retirement Age.
5
If the deceased claimed before their FRA, there is a special calculation called the widow(er) limit. Under the widow(er) limit, the surviving spouse receives the lesser of 1) the widow(er)
percentage based off the deceased’s FRA benefit or 2) the greater of A) the benefit the deceased was receiving at death or B) 82.5% of the deceased’s FRA benefit.
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Social Security Benefits for Widows and Widowers FAQ

My spouse claimed Social Security before they passed away. How is the survivors benefit calculated?
The survivors benefit is based on how old the deceased was when they claimed their retirement benefit. The greater the deceased’s
retirement benefit, the greater the survivors benefit.
■ If the deceased claimed their retirement benefit before their Full Retirement Age (FRA),6 the maximum survivors benefit is limited to
the greater of what the deceased was receiving at death or 82.5% of the deceased’s FRA benefit.7 Please contact the Social Security
Administration (SSA) for more information.
■ If the deceased claimed their retirement benefit at or after FRA, the survivors benefit is based on the amount the deceased was
receiving at death. The percentage you receive as a surviving spouse is based on your age when you claim the survivors benefit.
■ If the deceased was receiving Social Security disability benefits, the survivor benefit is based on what the deceased was receiving at
death. The percentage you receive as a surviving spouse is based on your age when you claim the survivors benefit.
The following chart illustrates how the survivors benefit may be impacted by the deceased’s age when they claim Social Security.
Impact of claiming decision on survivor
Hypothetical survivors benefits based on deceased’s claiming age

Deceased
claims $23,000
at 62

Deceased
claims $27,500
at 66

Deceased
claims $34,000
at 70

0 $5,000 $10,000 $15,000 $20,000 $25,000 $30,000 $35,000

Source: Social Security Administration.

My spouse did not claim Social Security before they passed away. How is the survivors benefit calculated?
It depends on whether your spouse passed away before or after FRA.
■ I f your spouse passed away before FRA: The survivors benefit is based on what the deceased would have received as a retirement
benefit at FRA. The percentage you receive is based on your age when you claim the survivor benefit.
■ If your spouse passed away at or after FRA: The survivors benefit is based on what the deceased would have received on the date of
their death. The percentage you receive is based on your age when you claim the survivors benefit.

Hypothetical example
Ramon passed away at age 68 without claiming his retirement benefit. The survivors benefit for his surviving spouse would be based
on the amount Ramon would have received at age 68.

Can I receive both my retirement benefit and the survivors benefit?

No, you will receive an amount that equals the greater of your retirement or survivors benefit.
What if I remarry?
If you remarry before age 60,8 you forfeit the survivors benefits off your deceased spouse. If you remarry at or after age 60,8 you retain the
survivors benefit off your deceased spouse. In that case you will receive the greater of your retirement benefit, the survivors benefit off your
deceased spouse or the spousal/survivors benefit off your current spouse.
6
F RA for retirement and spousal benefits is age 66 if you were born between 1943 and 1954. It gradually increases by two months for every year between 1955 and 1959. It is age 67 if you were
born in 1960 or later.
7
Under the widow(er) limit, the surviving spouse receives the lesser of 1) the widow(er) percentage based off the deceased’s FRA benefit or 2) the greater of the benefit the deceased was
receiving at death or 82.5% of the deceased’s FRA benefit. See page 2 for widow percentage by age.
8
Age 50 if disabled.
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Social Security Benefits for Widows and Widowers FAQ

Can I start with my retirement benefit and then switch to my survivors benefit? How about vice versa?
In some cases, a surviving spouse may start with one benefit and If you will be using one of these strategies, please ask the Social
switch to another. For example, Security representative if you can receive one benefit and delay the
other to increase its value. Otherwise, you may receive the greater
■ you may be able to start with your reduced survivors benefit as
of the two benefits.
early as age 60, and then switch to your retirement benefit
at any time between age 62 and 70 Please also note that if you are under Full Retirement Age (FRA)
■ you may also be able to start with your reduced retirement benefit there may be limits on how much you can earn. Contact the SSA
as early as age 62, and then switch to your survivors benefit for more information and to see if either strategy is available.
Widow(er) switch-upoptions
Widow(er) switch-up options
9

OPTION

1
Start with reduced survivors benefit Switch to retirement benefit at any
as early as age 60 time between ages 62 and 70

OPTION

2
Start with reduced retirement Switch to survivors benefit at
benefit as early as age 62 any time

Working and receiving the survivors benefit

Can I work and receive the survivors benefit? Work and Social Security (earnings test)*
A special earnings limitation applies before FRA. If you continue 10
AGE 2024 EARNINGS LIMITS WITHHOLDING
to work, are under FRA and earned more than $22,320 in 2024,
your retirement benefit as well as your survivors benefit may be Through the year Withheld by $1
temporarily withheld.11 After you reach FRA, you can earn as much before turning $22,320 for every $2 of
earnings above
Full Retirement ($1,860 per month)***
as you want without any withholding. Age** the limit

What if I worked in a government position that did not pay

In year of turning Withheld by $1
into Social Security?
Full Retirement $59,520 for every $3 of
earnings above
If you worked in a position that did not pay into Social Security Age** ($4,960 per month)***
the limit
and your spouse worked in the private sector, your survivors
benefit may be reduced by two-thirds of your government *Earnings test applies to any benefit (retirement, spousal, survivors, divorcee) received before Full
Retirement Age. Earnings test is based on earned income only. Dividend, capital gains, rental
pension. Please refer to Social Security’s publication “ income, distributions from IRAs and workplace retirement plans, etc. may not be not counted as
Government Pension Offset” for more information. earned income. Please contact a qualified tax advisor for more information on earned income.
**The SSA uses the FRA for retirement benefits when applying the earnings test for survivors
Can I receive the survivors benefit even if I never worked? benefits. If you were born between 1957 and 1961, the FRA for your survivors benefit is two to four
months earlier than the FRA for your retirement benefits. Although the FRA for survivors benefits
Yes. Even if you never worked, you can receive the survivors benefit. may be earlier, the SSA uses the FRA for retirement benefits for the earnings test. This rule applies
even if you are not receiving retirement benefits.
***A special earnings monthly limit may apply the first calendar year.
What if the deceased received a military pension?
Survivors benefits may affect benefits payable under
the Department of Defense Survivors Benefit Plan. Check For more information and answers to your questions
with the Department of Defense or the appropriate about Social Security benefits, visit ssa.gov.
military retirement advisor for more information.
For help determining what role Social Security benefits will play in your financial future, work closely with your financial advisor or
investment professional. They will provide the perspective you need to help you build and maintain the retirement strategy that may
work best for you.

For informational use only. MFS does not provide tax, legal, retirement or Social Security advice. Contact the Social Security Administration
at 1-800-772-1213 or go to ssa.gov to determine the benefits that may be available to you and your spouse.
9
The earnings limit applies to any benefit received before Full Retirement Age.
10
T he SSA uses the FRA for retirement benefits when applying the earnings test for survivors benefits. If you were born between 1957 and 1961, the FRA for survivors benefit is two to four months
earlier than the FRA for retirement benefits. Although FRA for survivors benefits may be earlier, the SSA uses the FRA for retirement benefits for the earnings test. This rule applies even if you are not
receiving retirement benefits.
11
$59,520 if you turn Full Retirement Age in 2024. Earnings limit applies only to earnings received after you start receiving Social Security benefits.
MFS FUND DISTRIBUTORS, INC., MEMBER SIPC, BOSTON, MA MFSP_SSURV_FLY_12_23 38812.10