Social Security Survivor Benefit Calculator

Calculate survivor and children benefits after a spouse's death. See family maximum.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated September 2026 · Source: SSA — Formula for Family Maximum Benefit

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Survivor Monthly

$2,572.00

Family Total (Monthly)

$2,572.00

Survivor Benefit Breakdown

Survivor Benefit (92% of deceased)$2,572.00
Family Monthly Total$2,572.00
Family Annual Total$30,864.00

Use the Social Security Survivor Benefit Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

When a worker covered by Social Security dies, certain family members can collect monthly survivor payments based on what that worker earned during their lifetime. Surviving spouses and qualifying children are the most common recipients, and the figures matter most precisely when money is tight after a death. What a family can draw together is capped by the family maximum, which runs from 150% of the deceased worker's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) on smaller records to about 187% in the middle of the range and settles near 175% for high earners, while any one survivor's benefit cannot exceed 100% of that PIA.

Every survivor payment traces back to the deceased worker's PIA, the monthly amount they would have received at their own full retirement age. A widow or widower who has reached full retirement age collects the full 100% of that PIA. Children under 18, those up to 19 and still in high school, and disabled adult children each draw 75% of the PIA, though the total a household receives is held down by the family maximum, set by a four-step formula in the Social Security Act: 150% of the PIA up to $1,643, 272% up to $2,371, 134% up to $3,093 and 175% above that, using the 2026 bend points.

Unlike your own retirement benefit, waiting past full retirement age to claim a survivor benefit buys you nothing extra, so there is no reward for delay here. If you claim before reaching full retirement age and you are still working, the earnings test can temporarily trim what you receive. Government pensions from work outside Social Security no longer reduce survivor benefits: the Social Security Fairness Act repealed the Government Pension Offset for benefits payable from January 2024.

Example: Surviving Spouse and Two Children

  1. 1 Let's assume the deceased worker's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) was $2,500. The surviving spouse is at full retirement age, and there are two eligible children.
  2. 2 The surviving spouse is entitled to 100% of the PIA ($2,500). Each child is entitled to 75% of the PIA ($2,500 * 0.75 = $1,875). The total calculated benefit before the family maximum is $2,500 + $1,875 + $1,875 = $6,250. The family maximum for a $2,500 PIA is $4,617.50: 150% of the first $1,643 ($2,464.50), plus 272% of the next $728 ($1,980.16), plus 134% of the remaining $129 ($172.86), rounded down to the dime.
  3. 3 The total monthly Social Security survivor benefit for this family would be $4,617.50.
  4. 4 In this scenario, while individual entitlements totaled $6,250, the family maximum of $4,617.50 limits the actual payout. This demonstrates how the family maximum ensures benefits are distributed fairly without exceeding a certain threshold, even if multiple family members are eligible.

Source: SSA — Formula for Family Maximum Benefit · Last updated: September 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Social Security survivor benefit?
A surviving spouse at full retirement age receives 100% of the deceased spouse benefit. At age 60, the survivor benefit is reduced to approximately 71.5%. Children under 18 (or 19 if in high school) each receive 75% of the deceased parent benefit, subject to a family maximum.
Can I receive survivor benefits and my own Social Security?
You can switch between the two but cannot collect both simultaneously. A common strategy is to collect survivor benefits starting at age 60 while letting your own benefit grow until age 70, then switch to your own higher benefit.
How long do I have to be married to get survivor benefits?
You must have been married for at least 9 months before your spouse death (with some exceptions like accidental death). Divorced spouses can receive survivor benefits if the marriage lasted at least 10 years. Remarriage before age 60 disqualifies survivor benefits; remarriage after 60 does not.

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