Social Security Disability Benefits for Disabled 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 Adult Disability Report before they the Social Security Disability Administration.

The Social Security Disability Administration uses the same definition of disability for widows and widowers as we do for workers.