When my husband dies, do I get his Social Security and mine?

Question

Bill Filer · Accepted Answer

This is a good question. 

If you qualify to receive social security based on your own work record, and if you qualify for survivor's benefits as well, it is unlikely that you will receive both. Uncle Sam will most likely payout the higher of the two amounts, not both.

If you do not qualify for social security on your own, and your spouse passes away, you may be eligible for the survivor benefit. There are certain criteria that must be met in order to qualify. I would absolutely encourage you to check out ssa.gov for more info.

Clarence &quot;Mark&quot; Christiansen · Answer

You can't receive both your full benefit and your husband's survivor benefit at the same time. If your survivor benefit is higher than your own benefit, you can switch to the survivor benefit. However, the Social Security Administration will give you the higher of the two amounts, but not both.

Answered by Clarence "Mark" Christiansen on March 30, 2025

Agent Licensed in WI, AZ, CA & 16 other states

Answered by Clarence "Mark" Christiansen Medicare Insurance Agent

Nikki Rowland · Answer

When your husband passes away, you do not receive both your Social Security benefit and his in full. Instead, you will receive the higher of the two benefits.

Dutch VanHoesen · Answer

Typically you would be eligible for survivor benefits depending on many different variables. You'd be eligible for the $255 death benefit once again providing you meet certain requirements.

Steve Brauer · Answer

I like to stick to my own lane...I always send people, and even accompany my clients many times, to the Dept of Social Security here in Phoenix. The people I've worked with there are super knowledgeable and helpful. I would not want to inform you about something like that if I was not 100% comfortable with it.

Answered by Steve Brauer on April 8, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ & CA

Answered by Steve Brauer Medicare Insurance Agent

Fred Manas · Answer

When a spouse dies, the surviving spouse can receive benefits from both their own Social Security record and their deceased spouse's record, but not both at the same time. The surviving spouse will receive the higher of the two amounts. 
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Survivor Benefits:
Upon a spouse's death, the surviving spouse may be eligible for "survivor benefits" on the deceased spouse's Social Security record. This benefit is a percentage of the deceased spouse's retirement benefit, typically between 71.5% and 100%. 
Retirement Benefits:
The surviving spouse can also receive their own Social Security retirement benefits, which are based on their individual work history. 
Choice:
Social Security will pay the surviving spouse the higher of their own retirement benefit or the survivor benefit on the deceased spouse's record. You cannot collect both. 
Other Considerations:
There are other survivor benefits available for families, including a one-time death payment and potential benefits for children.

Gary Henderson · Answer

No 
The sad part about social security is you do not get your spouse's benefits and yours 
What you can do is get the higher of the two, so if you've got more money through your spouse's benefits, the social security administration would be assign that to you 
The sad part of all of this people can work all their lives. Retire at 62 die the next day and all that money that was paid into it reverts back to the government and that is just very wrong in my opinion