Social Security survivor benefits
Enter the full benefit of the worker who died and who survives them. The calculator applies the survivor percentages, the reduction for age and the family maximum.
- Total for the family a month
- $2,000.00
The family would get about $2,000.00 a month in survivor benefits.
- Spouse a month
- $2,000.00
- Family maximum
- $3,435.50
- One-time death payment
- $255.00
Total for the family a month: $2,000.00. The family would get about $2,000.00 a month in survivor benefits.
The results are estimates for information only. They are not financial, tax, or legal advice. Check the numbers with your lender or a qualified professional before you decide. Terms of use
How to calculate
Estimates monthly Social Security survivor benefits for a widow or widower, children and parents from the worker’s benefit amount, with the 2026 family maximum.
Example with the default inputs (Worker’s full benefit (PIA) $2,000.00, Surviving spouse Age 60 or older, Spouse’s age when benefits start 67, and months 0, Children who qualify 0, Dependent parents 0): The family would get about $2,000.00 a month in survivor benefits.
Method: Original rates: spouse 100% of PIA (75% caring for a child under 16), child 75%, one parent 82.5% or two at 75%, each down to a dime; cut in proportion to the family maximum; spouse at 60 to 67 gets 71.5% to 100%; payments down to the dollar.
- The surviving spouse was born in 1962 or later, so full retirement age for survivors is 67.
- The worker had not claimed retirement benefits early; if they had, a spouse at full retirement age may get less (at least 82.5% of the PIA).
- Divorced spouses are not counted in the family maximum and are not shown.
- No earnings test, government pension, or other benefit on the survivors’ own records.
- Family maximum from the 2026 formula unless you enter SSA’s figure.
Worked examples
Each example is checked against the calculator on every build.
- Worker’s full benefit (PIA) $2,000.00, Surviving spouse Age 60 or older, Spouse’s age when benefits start 67, and months 0, Children who qualify 0, Dependent parents 0 gives Spouse a month $2,000.00, Total for the family a month $2,000.00, Family maximum $3,435.50, One-time death payment $255.00.Source: SSA, What you could get from Survivor benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/survivor/amount): up to 100% at full retirement age, $255 lump sum; SSA family maximum formula (https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/familymax.html): 1.5 × 1,643 + 2.72 × 357 = 3,435.54, $3,435.50
- Worker’s full benefit (PIA) $2,000.00, Surviving spouse Caring for a child under 16, Children who qualify 2, Dependent parents 0 gives Spouse a month $1,145.00, Each child a month $1,145.00, Total for the family a month $3,435.00, Family maximum $3,435.50.Source: SSA Bulletin 70(3): 75% caring for a child; Social Security Act 203(a) (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title02/0203.htm): benefits proportionately decreased
- Worker’s full benefit (PIA) $2,000.00, Surviving spouse Age 60 or older, Spouse’s age when benefits start 60, and months 0, Children who qualify 0, Dependent parents 0 gives Spouse a month $1,430.00, Total for the family a month $1,430.00.Source: SSA, What you could get from Survivor benefits: payments start at 71.5% at 60
- Worker’s full benefit (PIA) $1,800.00, Surviving spouse Age 60 or older, Spouse’s age when benefits start 63, and months 6, Children who qualify 0, Dependent parents 0 gives Spouse a month $1,543.00, Family maximum $2,891.50.Source: Social Security Act 202(q) reduction, 28.5% over the 84 months from 60 to 67: 42 months early, 1 − 0.285 × 42 ÷ 84 = 0.8575
- Worker’s full benefit (PIA) $3,500.00, Surviving spouse Disabled, age 50 to 59, Children who qualify 1, Dependent parents 1 gives Family maximum $6,124.30, Spouse a month $1,700.00, Each child a month $1,783.00, Each parent a month $1,962.00, Total for the family a month $5,445.00.Source: SSA family maximum formula: 2,464.50 + 1,980.16 + 967.48 + 712.25 = 6,124.39, $6,124.30; Social Security Act 202(h): one parent 82.5%; disabled widow 71.5% (SSA Bulletin 70(3)); proportional cut per Act 203(a)
- Worker’s full benefit (PIA) $1,234.50, Surviving spouse No spouse benefit, Children who qualify 3, Dependent parents 0, Family maximum $2,000.00 gives Each child a month $666.00, Total for the family a month $1,998.00, Family maximum $2,000.00, One-time death payment $255.00.Source: SSA: children get 75% (925.875, $925.80 to the dime)
- Worker’s full benefit (PIA) $2,000.00, Surviving spouse Age 60 or older, Spouse’s age when benefits start 67, and months 0, Children who qualify 0, Dependent parents 2 gives Spouse a month $1,374.00, Each parent a month $1,030.00, Total for the family a month $3,434.00, Family maximum $3,435.50.Source: Social Security Act 202(h) (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title02/0202.htm): two parents get 75% each; Act 203(a) proportional cut: 3,435.50 × 2,000 ÷ 5,000 = 1,374.20 and 3,435.50 × 1,500 ÷ 5,000 = 1,030.65, $1,030.60 ()
- Worker’s full benefit (PIA) $1,000.00, Surviving spouse No spouse benefit, Children who qualify 0, Dependent parents 1 gives Each parent a month $825.00, Total for the family a month $825.00, One-time death payment $0.00.Source: Social Security Act 202(h)(2)(A) (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title02/0202.htm): one parent gets 82.5% of the PIA
How it works
PIA. The worker's primary insurance amount (PIA) is their monthly benefit at full retirement age. Their Social Security statement shows it.
Original rates, as a share of the PIA, each rounded down to a multiple of $0.10:
| Survivor | Rate |
|---|---|
| Widow or widower, age 60 or older | 100% |
| Widow or widower, disabled, age 50 to 59 | 100% |
| Widow or widower caring for a child under 16 | 75% |
| Each child | 75% |
| One dependent parent | 82.5% |
| Two dependent parents | 75% each |
Family maximum. For 2026 (a worker who died in 2026 before 62, or turned 62 in 2026):
family maximum = 150% × (PIA up to $1,643) + 272% × (PIA over $1,643 up to $2,371) + 134% × (PIA over $2,371 up to $3,093) + 175% × (PIA over $3,093),
rounded down to a multiple of $0.10. If you enter SSA's family maximum, the page uses it instead.
Family maximum cut. If the original rates add up to more than the family maximum, each one becomes family maximum × its rate ÷ the sum of the rates, rounded down to $0.10.
Reduction for age (spouse only, after the cut):
- Age 60 or older: the benefit is multiplied by 1 − 0.285 × (months before 67) ÷ 84. Months before 67 = 84 − (12 × (age − 60) + extra months), and 0 at 67 or older. So 71.5% at 60 and 100% at 67.
- Disabled, 50 to 59: multiplied by 0.715.
- Caring for a child under 16: no reduction.
Payment. Each monthly benefit is rounded down to the whole dollar. Total for the family = spouse + each child × children + each parent × parents.
One-time death payment = $255 when there is a spouse or a child, otherwise $0.
Assumptions
- The surviving spouse was born in 1962 or later, so their full retirement age for survivor benefits is 67.
- The worker had not started retirement benefits early. If they had, a widow or widower may get less: the larger of what the worker was getting and 82.5% of the PIA.
- A divorced spouse is paid outside the family maximum and is not shown.
- No earnings test (benefits are withheld when a survivor under full retirement age works and earns over the limit), and no benefit on the survivor's own record.
- For a worker who turned 62 before 2026, the 2026 formula is only an estimate of the family maximum; enter SSA's figure for an exact result.
When the data is out of date
The page uses the 2026 family maximum bend points. After December 31, 2026 it keeps them until it is updated, and says so above the result.
Worked examples by hand
PIA $2,000, widow at 67. 100% of 2,000 = $2,000 a month, plus a $255 death payment. Family maximum = 1.5 × 1,643 + 2.72 × (2,000 − 1,643) = 2,464.50 + 971.04 = 3,435.54, so $3,435.50; $2,000 is under it.
PIA $2,000, widow caring for 2 children. Each original rate is 75% × 2,000 = $1,500, a sum of $4,500, over the $3,435.50 maximum. Each becomes 3,435.50 × 1,500 ÷ 4,500 = 1,145.166…, so $1,145.10 to the dime and $1,145 paid. Total = 3 × 1,145 = $3,435.
PIA $2,000, widow at exactly 60. 84 months early: 1 − 0.285 × 84 ÷ 84 = 0.715. 2,000 × 0.715 = $1,430.
PIA $1,800, widow at 63 and 6 months. Months before 67 = 84 − (12 × 3 + 6) = 42. Factor = 1 − 0.285 × 42 ÷ 84 = 0.8575. 1,800 × 0.8575 = 1,543.50, so $1,543 paid.
PIA $3,500, disabled widow aged 55, 1 child, 1 dependent parent. Original rates: 3,500; 75% = 2,625; 82.5% = 2,887.50; sum 9,012.50. Family maximum = 2,464.50 + 2.72 × 728 + 1.34 × 722 + 1.75 × 407 = 2,464.50 + 1,980.16 + 967.48 + 712.25 = 6,124.39, so $6,124.30. Cut: spouse 6,124.30 × 3,500 ÷ 9,012.50 = 2,378.368…, $2,378.30; child 1,783.776…, $1,783.70; parent 1,962.154…, $1,962.10. Spouse × 0.715 = 1,700.48, so $1,700; child $1,783; parent $1,962. Total = $5,445.
PIA $1,234.50, three children, SSA family maximum $2,000. Each child 75% = 925.875, $925.80; sum $2,777.40. Each becomes 2,000 × 925.80 ÷ 2,777.40 = 666.67, $666.60, $666 paid; total $1,998.
PIA $2,000, widow at 67 and two dependent parents. Original rates 2,000 + 1,500 + 1,500 = $5,000, over $3,435.50. Spouse 3,435.50 × 2,000 ÷ 5,000 = $1,374.20, $1,374; each parent 3,435.50 × 1,500 ÷ 5,000 = 1,030.65, $1,030.60, $1,030. Total $3,434.
PIA $1,000, one dependent parent. 82.5% × 1,000 = $825.
Other questions people ask
How much does a widow get from Social Security?
A widow or widower at full retirement age gets 100% of the worker’s full benefit (the primary insurance amount, or PIA). From age 60 the benefit starts at 71.5% and rises each month to 100% at full retirement age, which is 67 for survivors born in 1962 or later.
How much do children get in survivor benefits?
Each child who qualifies gets 75% of the worker’s PIA, and a parent caring for a child under 16 also gets 75%, until the family maximum is reached.
What is the family maximum for survivor benefits?
It is the most that can be paid on one worker’s record, about 150% to 187.5% of the PIA. For a worker who died in 2026 before 62, it is 150% of the first $1,643 of PIA, 272% up to $2,371, 134% up to $3,093 and 175% above. A $2,000 PIA gives $3,435.50.
What happens when benefits are more than the family maximum?
Each survivor’s benefit is cut in proportion so the total equals the maximum. With a $2,000 PIA, a parent caring for a child and two children would each get $1,500, but the $3,435.50 maximum lowers each to $1,145.
Is there a one-time death benefit?
Yes. A spouse who lived with the worker, or a child who qualifies, may get a one-time payment of $255.
Can a dependent parent get survivor benefits?
Yes. A parent 62 or older who got at least half of their support from the worker gets 82.5% of the PIA, or 75% each when two parents qualify.