Also called: widow's benefit, widower's benefit
When one spouse dies, the survivor keeps the larger of the two Social Security benefits and the smaller one stops. The household always loses one check.
At the survivor's full retirement age the survivor benefit is 100% of what the deceased was receiving or entitled to, including any delayed retirement credits. It can start as early as age 60 at a reduced rate.
If the deceased claimed early, the survivor's amount is limited to the larger of the deceased's reduced benefit or 82.5% of the deceased's PIA. The survivor may take one benefit first and switch to the other later.