What survivors benefits are
If your spouse paid into Social Security and dies, you may qualify for a monthly survivors benefit. The amount can be up to 100 percent of what your spouse was receiving (or eligible to receive at full retirement age), depending on when you claim.
Same pay-date schedule
Survivors benefits follow the same Title II Wednesday schedule as retirement and SSDI: 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Wednesday of the month, based on the deceased spouse's date of birth, not yours. This sometimes catches widows and widowers by surprise, your check arrives on his or her schedule, not yours.
Switching strategies
A surviving spouse age 60+ can claim survivors benefits as early as 60 (50 if disabled), then switch to their own retirement benefit at FRA or 70 if it grew larger. Or claim their own retirement first and switch to survivors later. SSA does not automatically pick the larger one for you, you have to choose.
Lump-sum death benefit
A one-time $255 payment to the surviving spouse or eligible child. Not a percentage of benefit, just a fixed amount that has not been adjusted for inflation since 1954.
Earnings test
If you claim survivors benefits before your FRA and earn above $23,400 in 2026, $1 of benefit is withheld for every $2 above the limit. Past FRA, no earnings test.