What is the Social Security survivor benefit for a widow or widower?

A surviving spouse can receive up to 100% of what the deceased was actually getting (or entitled to), replacing their own smaller benefit. You can claim a survivor benefit as early as age 60 (50 if disabled), though claiming before your full retirement age reduces it. A key strategy: you may take one benefit first and switch to the other later — for example, claim a reduced survivor benefit at 60 while letting your own retirement benefit grow with delayed credits to 70, then switch. This is why it often pays for the higher earner in a couple to delay to 70: it maximizes the survivor benefit the widow(er) will live on for the rest of their life. Survivor rules are nuanced; map your specific situation at wealthserene.com/tools/social-security-optimizer.