Widows - Widowers

If something happens to you, benefits may be payable to your widow or widower with a disability if the following conditions are met:

• He or she is between ages 50 and 60.
• The widow or widower meets the definition of disability for adults.
• The disability started before your death or within seven years after your death.

Note: If your widow or widower caring for your children receives Social Security benefits, he or she is eligible if disability starts before those payments end or within seven years after they end.

Your widow or widower cannot apply online for survivors benefits based on their disability but he or she can get the process started by completing an Application before contacting SSA.

SSA uses the same definition of disability for widows and widowers as they do for workers. The definition of disability under Social Security is different than other programs. Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or for short-term disability.

"Disability" under Social Security is based on your inability to work. They consider you disabled under Social Security rules if:

• You cannot do work that you did before;
• SSA decides that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s); and
• Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.

This is a strict definition of disability. Social Security program rules assume that working families have access to other resources to provide support during periods of short-term disabilities, including workers' compensation, insurance, savings and investments.