Will I Get a Widow’s Pension When My Husband Dies? Complete Guide to Survivor Benefits

Losing a spouse is one of life’s most challenging experiences. Beyond the emotional devastation, many widows face financial uncertainty, wondering: “Will I get a widow’s pension when my husband dies?” The short answer is yes—in most cases, you’ll be eligible for Social Security survivor benefits, but several factors determine how much you’ll receive and when you can claim these benefits.

As someone who’s researched this topic extensively for our readers I want to provide you with a comprehensive guide that explains your rights and options clearly. Let’s dive into everything you need to know about widow’s pensions and survivor benefits.

What Exactly Are Widow’s Benefits?

When Social Security was first established lawmakers made an important change before the first check was ever issued in 1940. Instead of ending benefits when a retired worker died they decided that his widow could collect a survivor benefit for her lifetime. These survivor benefits have evolved over the years, with improved eligibility rules and lower age requirements.

Today, nearly 37 million widows and widowers, including some divorced from late beneficiaries, receive these survivor benefits as of 2025

Am I Eligible for My Husband’s Social Security When He Dies?

In most cases, a widow qualifies for survivor benefits if she:

• Is at least 60 years old
• Was married to the deceased for at least nine months at the time of death

However, there are several exceptions to these requirements:

• If your husband’s death was accidental or occurred while on duty in the U.S. military, there’s no minimum marriage duration requirement
• If you have a disability that occurred within seven years of your husband’s death, you can apply as early as age 50
• If you care for children from the marriage who are under 16 or have disabilities that began before age 22, you can apply at any age
• If you were widowed and remarried after age 60 (or after age 50 if disabled), you remain eligible

How Much Will My Widow’s Benefit Be?

The amount you’ll receive depends on several factors, primarily:

1. Your age when you claim benefits
2. What your husband was receiving from Social Security at time of death
3. Your family circumstances

Here’s a breakdown of benefit amounts:

• If you’ve reached full retirement age: You’ll receive 100% of the benefit your husband was receiving (or would have received based on his age and earnings)
• If you claim between age 60 and full retirement age: You’ll receive between 71.5% and 99% of the deceased’s benefit (the percentage increases the older you are when claiming)
• If you claim in your 50s due to disability: You’ll receive 71.5% of your late husband’s benefit
• If you’re caring for a child under 16 or with disabilities: You’ll receive 75% of the late husband’s benefit, regardless of your age

It is important to know that Social Security will only pay the higher of the retirement and survivor benefits. If your own retirement benefit is higher than your survivor benefit, you’ll get that one instead.

When Can I Start Receiving Widow’s Benefits?

As mentioned earlier, you can start receiving survivor benefits:

• At age 60 (with reduced benefits)
• At age 50 if you have a qualifying disability
• At any age if caring for the deceased’s child who is either under 16 or disabled

What About Private Pensions and Employer Benefits?

Beyond Social Security, you may also be entitled to pension benefits from your husband’s employer. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) requires private pension plans to provide benefits to surviving spouses.

Here’s what you need to know about these additional benefits:

Private Employer Pensions

If your husband worked for a private employer and was part of a pension plan, your eligibility for survivor benefits depends on:

• When your husband retired
• When your husband died
• Whether you signed a document waiving your survivor benefits

The Retirement Equity Act of 1984 provided important protections. After 1985, an employee could no longer waive their spouse’s rights to survivor benefits unless the spouse agreed by signing a specific written form called a “spousal consent.”

Government and Special Employment Categories

The rules are different if your husband worked for:

• Federal, state, or local government
• The military
• Churches or church-related agencies (like religious schools or hospitals)

In these cases, you’ll need to check the specific rules that apply to those employment categories.

How Do I Apply for Widow’s Benefits?

Applying for survivor benefits isn’t automatic—you need to take action. Here’s what to do:

1. Contact Social Security: Call 800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment to file your claim
2. Gather necessary documents: You’ll need original documents including death certificate, marriage certificate, and Social Security numbers
3. Decide on benefit strategy: In some cases, you may want to claim one benefit type first and switch to another later to maximize your benefits

When your husband dies, if you were already getting spousal benefits based on his work record, Social Security will usually switch you to survivor benefits automatically. But it’s always good to confirm this has happened.

What If I’m Working While Receiving Survivor Benefits?

If you’re below full retirement age and still working, Social Security’s earnings limit could affect your survivor benefit. In 2025, if you’re under full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above the annual limit.

This is something to carefully consider when deciding when to claim your benefits. Sometimes it makes financial sense to delay claiming if you’re still working full-time.

Will Remarriage Affect My Benefits?

This is a common concern for widows. Here’s the rule:

• If you remarry before age 60 (or age 50 if disabled), you generally cannot receive survivor benefits
• If you remarry at or after age 60 (or age 50 if disabled), you can still collect survivor benefits based on your late husband’s record

What About Divorced Spouses?

You don’t necessarily need to have been married to your husband at the time of his death to qualify for survivor benefits. If you’re a divorced spouse, you may still be eligible if:

• Your marriage lasted at least 10 years
• You are at least 60 years old (or 50 if disabled)
• You are unmarried or remarried after age 60

For pension benefits, a divorced spouse may receive survivor benefits as part of the divorce settlement. However, you’ll probably lose survivor pension protection after divorce unless your Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) specifically provides for it.

Making Strategic Decisions About Your Benefits

There are things you can do if you feel like you should be getting retirement benefits but haven’t yet. Either your retirement benefits or your survivor benefits are the ones you can apply for first. This flexibility allows you to maximize your lifetime benefits.

For example, you might:

• Claim survivor benefits first, allowing your own retirement benefit to grow, then switch to your retirement benefit later if it would be higher
• Claim your retirement benefit first if it’s smaller, then switch to the survivor benefit when you reach full retirement age

These decisions can be complex, so it’s often worth consulting with a financial advisor or Social Security specialist before making your choice.

Common Questions About Widow’s Benefits

Here are some questions I often get from readers:

Will my widow’s benefits stop if I work?

Not necessarily, but they may be reduced if you’re under full retirement age and earn above certain thresholds.

How long do Social Security survivor benefits last?

They typically last for your lifetime, though they may stop if you remarry before age 60.

Can I collect my deceased husband’s Social Security and my own?

You won’t receive both benefits simultaneously. Social Security will pay the higher of the two benefit amounts.

Do I have to wait until I’m 60 to collect survivor benefits?

Not always. You can collect at any age if you’re caring for the deceased’s child who is under 16 or disabled. You can also collect as early as age 50 if you’re disabled.

Final Thoughts

It can be hard to figure out how to get widow’s benefits, especially when you are grieving. But knowing what your choices are is important if you want to make smart choices about your financial future.

Remember that the rules and benefit amounts can change, so it’s always a good idea to contact Social Security directly or visit their website for the most current information. You’ve paid into this system through your taxes, and these benefits are designed to provide financial support when you need it most.

Have you gone through this process or are you preparing for the future? I’d love to hear your experiences or answer any questions in the comments below.