See how much the surviving spouse will receive — and how the deceased's filing affects it
The survivor benefit depends on whether the deceased filed for benefits and when they died relative to their FRA. The RIB-LIM (widow(er)'s limit) only applies when the deceased filed before their FRA — it sets the ceiling at the higher of their actual benefit or 82.5% of their PIA.
Note: Survivor benefits have their own full retirement age, which differs from the regular retirement FRA for people born between 1957 and 1961. The calculator uses the correct survivor FRA based on the birth year you enter.
Deceased spouse
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Surviving spouse
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Survivor benefit breakdown
All benefits shown are in today's dollars. Social Security includes an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that has historically averaged 2–3% per year. The RIB-LIM (widow(er)'s limit) only applies when the deceased filed before their FRA — it sets the ceiling at the higher of their actual benefit or 82.5% of their PIA. The survivor accrues 0.475% per month from age 60 until the RIB-LIM ceiling is reached — waiting past that age provides no additional benefit. The survivor collects the higher of their own benefit or the survivor benefit, never both. Actual benefits may vary. Consult a qualified financial advisor before making filing decisions.