Understanding Widow’s Benefits

Widow’s benefits are available to a surviving spouse or dependent children of someone who was eligible for Social Security benefits at the time of their death. These benefits are based on the deceased spouse’s earnings history and can be collected as early as age 60 (or age 50 if you are disabled). The amount you can receive depends on the deceased person’s work record and how much they paid into Social Security during their lifetime.

Understanding Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a program for individuals who have worked and paid into the Social Security system but are now unable to work due to a disability. The amount you can receive from SSDI depends on your own earnings history and the number of work credits you’ve earned. To qualify for SSDI, you generally need to have worked for a certain number of years and meet the SSA’s definition of disability.

Can You Receive Both Benefits?

In some cases, you can receive both widow’s benefits and SSDI at the same time. However, there are specific rules regarding how these benefits interact:

If You Are Disabled and Widowed
If you are disabled and the surviving spouse of a deceased worker, you may be eligible to receive both widow’s benefits and SSDI, but you cannot receive both benefits at their full amount. In most cases, you would receive the higher of the two benefits, and the lower benefit will be reduced or offset.

• If your widow’s benefit is higher than your SSDI benefit, you would receive the widow’s benefit amount.
• If your SSDI benefit is higher than the widow’s benefit, you would receive your SSDI benefit.
• If both benefits are of similar amounts, the SSA will apply an offset, and you will receive the combined total, but not the full amount of both.

How the SSA Calculates Benefits
The SSA will use a "family maximum" rule, which limits the total amount that can be paid to a family based on a deceased worker’s earnings record. If you are receiving both benefits, the combined amount cannot exceed this maximum. The SSA will typically give you the benefit that provides the greatest financial assistance.

Age and Timing Considerations

• If you are under age 60, you may be eligible for widow’s benefits if you have a disability that started before or within 7 years of your spouse’s death.
• If you are over age 60, you may receive full widow’s benefits (based on your deceased spouse’s record) along with SSDI, but the total amount you receive may be subject to reductions based on family maximum limits.