# Social Security survivor benefits

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.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/social-security-survivor-benefits-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/social-security-survivor-benefits-calculator.json
- Version: 4b04b652c28f

## Default answer

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.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| pia | Worker’s full benefit (PIA) | The monthly benefit the worker who died would get at full retirement age (the primary insurance amount), from their Social Security statement. |
| spouse | Surviving spouse | A widow or widower, and which rule applies to them. |
| age | Spouse’s age when benefits start | Years of age; at 67 or older the benefit is not reduced. |
| mo | and months | Months past the spouse’s last birthday, 0 to 11. |
| kids | Children who qualify | Unmarried children under 18 (19 if still in high school), or disabled before 22. |
| parents | Dependent parents | Parents 62 or older who got at least half their support from the worker. |
| fmax | Family maximum | Optional: the family maximum from SSA. Leave it empty to use the 2026 formula (exact when the worker died in 2026 before 62). |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| total | Total for the family a month | All survivor benefits added together, after the family maximum. |
| spouseBenefit | Spouse a month | The widow or widower’s benefit after the family maximum and any reduction for age. |
| child | Each child a month | 75% of the PIA, less any family maximum cut. |
| parent | Each parent a month | 82.5% of the PIA for one parent, 75% each for two, less any family maximum cut. |
| familyMax | Family maximum | The most that can be paid each month to the whole family on the worker’s record. |
| lumpSum | One-time death payment | $255 to a spouse or a child who qualifies. |

## 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.

## Assumptions

- 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

1. pia = $2,000.00, spouse = aged, age = 67, mo = 0, kids = 0, parents = 0 gives spouseBenefit = $2,000.00, total = $2,000.00, familyMax = $3,435.50, lumpSum = $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.
2. pia = $2,000.00, spouse = care, kids = 2, parents = 0 gives spouseBenefit = $1,145.00, child = $1,145.00, total = $3,435.00, familyMax = $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.
3. pia = $2,000.00, spouse = aged, age = 60, mo = 0, kids = 0, parents = 0 gives spouseBenefit = $1,430.00, total = $1,430.00. Source: SSA, What you could get from Survivor benefits: payments start at 71.5% at 60.
4. pia = $1,800.00, spouse = aged, age = 63, mo = 6, kids = 0, parents = 0 gives spouseBenefit = $1,543.00, familyMax = $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.
5. pia = $3,500.00, spouse = disabled, kids = 1, parents = 1 gives familyMax = $6,124.30, spouseBenefit = $1,700.00, child = $1,783.00, parent = $1,962.00, total = $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).
6. pia = $1,234.50, spouse = none, kids = 3, parents = 0, fmax = $2,000.00 gives child = $666.00, total = $1,998.00, familyMax = $2,000.00, lumpSum = $255.00. Source: SSA: children get 75% (925.875, $925.80 to the dime).
7. pia = $2,000.00, spouse = aged, age = 67, mo = 0, kids = 0, parents = 2 gives spouseBenefit = $1,374.00, parent = $1,030.00, total = $3,434.00, familyMax = $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 ().
8. pia = $1,000.00, spouse = none, kids = 0, parents = 1 gives parent = $825.00, total = $825.00, lumpSum = $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.

## FAQ

### 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.

## Sources

- Social Security Administration, What you could get from Survivor benefits: https://www.ssa.gov/survivor/amount (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- Social Security Administration, Office of the Chief Actuary, Formula for Family Maximum Benefit: https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/familymax.html (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- Social Security Administration, Social Security Act section 202 (benefit rates for widows, children and parents): https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title02/0202.htm (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- Social Security Administration, Social Security Act section 203 (family maximum; benefits proportionately decreased): https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title02/0203.htm (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 70, No. 3, Widows and Social Security (benefit rates by type of widow): https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v70n3/v70n3p89.html (retrieved 2026-10-05)