Here's how the widow/widower benefit works. (If you have dependents, child benefits may be available, but they work differently than the widow/widower benefits covered here.)

First, Social Security pays a one-time death benefit of $255 if the surviving spouse lived with the deceased.4 More importantly, though, is the ongoing benefit. At a basic level, the monthly amount is dependent on the deceased's lifetime earnings and the Social Security benefit he or she was receiving or would have received. The higher the earnings, the higher the benefit. 5

• Whether the deceased spouse had begun collecting benefits
• Whether the deceased spouse had taken early retirement (and gotten the corresponding reduced benefits.)
• How much the deceased spouse would have received at FRA. This is also known as the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) or basic benefit. 

Let's assume for now that the widow or widower has reached FRA, so there won't be a reduction for early collection. Here are some scenarios to illustrate how the other factors may impact the benefit:

If the surviving spouse is at FRA and the deceased spouse had begun benefits…

...at their FRA or later, the surviving spouse is entitled to what the deceased spouse was getting, including any delayed retirement credits.

...before they reached their FRA, then the surviving spouse is entitled to either what the deceased spouse was getting, or 82.5% of their PIA amount, whichever is greater. (The 82.5% rule is meant to protect the survivor from being overly penalized by a spouse who took early retirement.) 6

If the surviving spouse is at FRA and the deceased spouse had not begun benefits…

...and died prior to FRA, then the widow(er) is entitled to what their deceased spouse would have gotten at their FRA. 7So, for example, if your spouse passes away at 64 and had not started collecting benefits, then you would receive what they would have gotten at their FRA age of 66. 

...and died at FRA or older, then the surviving spouse is entitled to whatever the deceased spouse would have gotten for benefits, including any delayed retirement credits.

Now, don't forget the age of the survivor when he or she applies for the benefit can have a big impact.

There is no reduction in the benefit amounts discussed above if the survivor has reached FRA. But before then, the survivor gets somewhere between 71.5% and 99% of what they would otherwise be entitled to, depending on how much younger they are. So, for example, if a widow takes the benefit at 60, and her husband was getting $1,000 a month after reaching his FRA, her benefit would be $715.

There are a number of important caveats to these basic rules.

•  No matter how old you are, if you are caring for the deceased's child, and the child is under 16 or disabled and collecting benefits, you can still collect a widow or widower's benefit. The amount in that case is 75% of the deceased spouse's basic benefit.
• If your spouse dies early enough that you remarry before turning 60 (or 50 if you are disabled,) you can't collect a widow benefit. If you remarry after those ages, you will continue to qualify for the benefit.  
• If your children or dependent parents are eligible for benefits, your benefit may be affected because there is a maximum amount disbursed per family. Generally this is between 150% and 180% of the basic benefit of the deceased worker.3

If you were married to your ex for at least 10 years, and you do not remarry before age 60, then you are eligible to collect a benefit when your ex dies, even if they have remarried. If you are caring for his or her child, and the child is under 16, the 10-year minimum is waived. Generally, the benefit is calculated just as it is for a spouse who isn't divorced.3

If the surviving spouse works and is or will be eligible for their own Social Security benefit, one option is to take a widow/widower's benefit first, and later switch to their own benefit, or vice versa.3

For example, a widow could have had these two options (numbers are for illustration only:)

1. At 60, take a widow benefit of $18,180 a year, then at 70 switch to her own benefit of $20,304.
2. At 62, take her own benefit of $10,752 a year, then at 66 switch to her widow's benefit of $24,480 a year.

At first glance, taking the money at 60 might seem like a good idea, but choosing option 2 will provide her more lifetime income (at least $30,000 more) and a more secure inflation-adjusted income at age 66 and beyond (assuming she lives to age 86 or later).