After the Loss of a Spouse, One Step at a Time

When one spouse dies, the household keeps the larger of the two Social Security checks and loses the smaller one. How and when you claim can make a big difference.

• Up to his full benefit. At your survivor full retirement age you can receive up to 100% of what your husband was receiving or was entitled to. If he claimed early, the survivor benefit may be lower, although special rules set a floor.
• Start as early as 60. Reduced survivor benefits can begin at 60, or 50 if you are disabled. If you are caring for his child under 16, you may qualify at any age.
• Take one, then the other. Survivor and retirement benefits are separate, so many widows can start one and switch to the other later.

Example: Maria is 60. Her late husband’s benefit was $2,800 a month, and her own benefit at 70 is projected at $2,500. She could start a reduced survivor benefit at 60 and let her own benefit grow until 70, or start her own reduced benefit and switch to the full survivor benefit later. Which order pays more depends on her health, other income and taxes. This hypothetical example is for illustration only.

The Social Security Fairness Act, signed in January 2025, repealed the Government Pension Offset. If you have a pension from government work, such as teaching, you may now qualify for a survivor benefit you were previously denied.

Many widows are surprised to find their taxes go up even though their income goes down. In the year your spouse dies you can usually still file jointly. After that, unless you have a dependent child, you file as single, with tax brackets and a standard deduction that are roughly half the size of the married ones.

At the same time, required minimum distributions keep coming from the combined retirement accounts, and Medicare IRMAA surcharges start at a lower income for single filers. The good news: it can be planned for. Roth conversions while you are both living, or in the year of death while you can still file jointly, can reduce the impact. Roth conversions are taxable in the year of conversion and may not be appropriate for everyone.

Read: The Widow’s Tax Trap · Try the Tax Bomb Calculator

As a surviving spouse, you have more choices than any other beneficiary. Picking the right one can save taxes and penalties.

Rules for inherited accounts are complex and mistakes can be costly. Do not cash out or move an account until you have reviewed your options. This is general education, not tax advice.

• Widow’s property tax exemption. Florida offers a $5,000 exemption for widows and widowers who are Florida residents, on top of the homestead exemption. Apply with your county property appraiser. It ends if you remarry.
• Your homestead is protected. Florida has strong homestead protections for surviving spouses, and your homestead exemption and Save Our Homes cap generally continue. Review how the deed was titled with an attorney.
• Step-up in cost basis. Investments and property your husband owned may receive a new cost basis at his date of death, which can reduce capital gains tax if you sell. Keep records of values on the date of death.
• Probate only if needed. Assets with beneficiaries, joint ownership or a trust usually pass outside of probate. Smaller estates may qualify for Florida’s simpler summary administration.

Widows are a frequent target of fraud. Scammers read obituaries and public records, then call about debts your husband supposedly owed, “unclaimed” accounts or investments that sound too good to pass up.

• Never give account numbers or your Social Security number to someone who contacted you.
• Be wary of anyone who says you must decide today.
• You are generally not personally responsible for debts that were only in your husband’s name.
• Ask a trusted friend, family member or advisor to review any offer before you sign.