Survivor Benefit Planner
After a spouse dies, choose when to take the survivor benefit and when to take your own, and switch between them in the order that pays the most over your lifetime.
You
Your late spouse
Best order
Own at 62, survivor at 67
Starts at, then grows to
$1,330 → $3,100
A month, today's dollars
Over the next best
+$2,493
Own at 62, survivor at 66
Survivor benefit by start age
| Start at | Monthly | Of full survivor benefit |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | $2,216 | 71.5% |
| 61 | $2,342 | 75.6% |
| 62 | $2,468 | 79.6% |
| 63 | $2,595 | 83.7% |
| 64 | $2,721 | 87.8% |
| 65 | $2,847 | 91.9% |
| 66 | $2,973 | 95.9% |
| 67 | $3,100 | 100.0% |
Survivor full retirement age is 67.
Your own benefit by start age
| Start at | Monthly |
|---|---|
| 62 | $1,330 |
| 63 | $1,425 |
| 64 | $1,520 |
| 65 | $1,646 |
| 66 | $1,773 |
| 67 | $1,900 |
| 68 | $2,052 |
| 69 | $2,204 |
| 70 | $2,356 |
Your full retirement age is 67.
Strategies ranked
| Strategy | First check | Final check | Expected lifetime value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Own at 62, survivor at 67 | $1,330 | $3,100 | $526,213 |
| Own at 62, survivor at 66 | $1,330 | $2,973 | $523,720 |
| Own at 62, survivor at 65 | $1,330 | $2,847 | $519,380 |
| Own at 63, survivor at 67 | $1,425 | $3,100 | $515,293 |
| Own at 62, survivor at 64 | $1,330 | $2,721 | $512,929 |
| Own at 63, survivor at 66 | $1,425 | $2,973 | $511,863 |
| Survivor at 60, own at 70 | $2,216 | $2,356 | $511,102 |
| Own at 63, survivor at 65 | $1,425 | $2,847 | $506,556 |
| Own at 62, survivor at 63 | $1,330 | $2,595 | $504,243 |
| Own at 64, survivor at 67 | $1,520 | $3,100 | $502,751 |
| Own at 63, survivor at 64 | $1,425 | $2,721 | $499,106 |
| Own at 64, survivor at 66 | $1,520 | $2,973 | $498,384 |
How it works›
Switching. A widow or widower can take one benefit first and switch to the other later. Taking the survivor benefit early and your own at 70 lets your own benefit collect delayed credits; taking your own early and the survivor benefit at full retirement age works when the survivor benefit is the larger one.
Survivor amounts. 71.5% of the deceased's benefit at 60, rising evenly to 100% at survivor full retirement age. A spouse who died before filing leaves the full benefit plus any delayed credits they had earned. One who claimed early leaves no more than the larger of that reduced benefit and 82.5% of their full benefit.
Valuation. Every year's benefit is weighted by your chance of being alive for it, from the SSA 2021 period life table scaled for health, and discounted at the rate you set above inflation.
What it leaves out. Remarriage before 60, disabled survivor benefits from 50, children in your care, the earnings test before full retirement age, and the $255 lump-sum death payment.