Can I get Social Security survivor benefits from my deceased ex-spouse?

If your marriage to your now-deceased ex lasted at least 10 years and you're currently unmarried, you may qualify for a divorced-survivor benefit. The amount and reduction schedule are the same as a current widow(er) — 100% of the ex's PIA at your survivor FRA, 71.5% at age 60.

Apply by phone or in person. SSA does not contact you when an ex dies; you have to know to ask.

If you remarried at age 60 or later, your divorced-survivor benefit on your deceased ex's record is preserved — the remarriage does not terminate eligibility. This rule has been in place for decades but is widely misunderstood.

If you have multiple eligible records (multiple deceased exes from 10+ year marriages), SSA will pay the higher of the two. You don't have to choose just one without comparing.

If you remarried before turning 60 and you're still in that marriage, you cannot claim divorced-survivor benefits on the deceased ex's record. The rule applies even if the second marriage isn't doing well financially.

If the subsequent marriage ends — by divorce, annulment, or the death of the new spouse — you may regain eligibility on the original deceased ex's record. Talk to SSA right after that change.

If you've had more than one marriage that lasted 10+ years, and more than one ex has died, you may have access to multiple divorced-survivor records. SSA pays only one survivor-type benefit at a time, but you generally get to pick the highest.

Gather marriage and divorce dates for every prior 10-year marriage. Don't omit one because you assume the other is bigger — SSA will run the math both ways.

If your ex had non-covered government employment (CSRS federal, state teacher pensions, etc.), the old GPO rule reduced divorced-survivor benefits by two-thirds of any pension paid to YOU from non-covered work. The Social Security Fairness Act repealed GPO in January 2025.

If you previously didn't apply because GPO would have eliminated the benefit, apply now. The benefit may be substantial.

Like all survivor benefits, divorced-survivor benefits are NOT subject to the deemed-filing rule. You can claim a reduced divorced-survivor benefit at 60 and switch to your own (boosted) retirement at 70. Or claim your own first and switch to the higher divorced-survivor amount later.

Which path is better depends on the relative size of the two benefits. SSA can run both scenarios.

SSA does not notify ex-spouses when a worker dies. If you find out years later, you may still apply, but retroactive benefits are limited. Generally up to 6 months of retroactivity for those at survivor FRA, less for earlier filings.

If you suspect a long-deceased ex but aren't sure, SSA can confirm via Social Security number. Worth the call if the marriage was 10+ years and you're 60+.

If you're helping a parent file a divorced-survivor claim, the three dates that drive eligibility are: marriage date, divorce date, and date of death. Get all three on paper before you call SSA.

Also confirm the parent's current marital status — unmarried, OR remarried at age 60+. Without one of those two conditions, the claim is blocked. Apply by phone (1-800-772-1213) or in person. There's no online survivor application.