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By Suzanne Blake
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The number of people collecting Social Security survivor benefits in the U.S. has dropped by nearly 50,000 over the past year.
Why It Matters
The Social Security Administration (SSA) delivers survivor benefits to nearly 6 million people each year. The payments help surviving spouses and former spouses as well as recipients' minor children and disabled adult children make ends meet after their loved one dies.
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The SSA is currently facing a funding shortfall that could impact benefits as early as 2035, experts say.
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What To Know
In December 2024, about 5.78 million Americans received survivor benefits, according to the SSA. That was a substantial drop of about 47,000 people since December 2023, when roughly 5.83 million Americans were getting survivor benefits.
There are various types of recipients who are eligible for these benefits, including children of deceased workers, widowed mothers and fathers, nondisabled widows, disabled widows and some parents of deceased workers.
Between 2023 and 2024, the most significant drop in survivor benefits occurred for nondisabled and disabled widows and widowers, with the two groups combining for a benefit loss of 19,000 people.
What People Are Saying
Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "While a reduction in the number of individuals receiving Social Security benefits is always hard to attribute to just one thing. One factor could be many older Americans are staying in the workforce longer. If you qualify for Social Security survivor benefits, those will be there for you upon retirement. However, depending on your income, they could be reduced in value, especially if you're still generating a significant amount of money from a job or other source of revenue. Some Americans waiting a tad longer to start receiving benefits could be beneficial, as their benefit will be higher the longer they wait after the age of 60."
Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek: "The 47,000-person drop in survivor benefits reflects major demographic shifts. Women who lost spouses recently typically have stronger earnings records, qualifying them for higher retirement benefits based on their own work history rather than survivor benefits. This shows increased financial independence. But there's a catch: Many eligible people, especially divorced individuals, don't realize they qualify for survivor benefits. The complexity of Social Security rules means people miss out on entitled benefits."
Kevin Thompson, a finance expert and the founder and CEO of 9i Capital Group, told Newsweek: "Several factors likely contributed to this drop. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in Social Security claims, including survivor benefits, which have since tapered off. Additionally, as children who received survivor benefits turn 18 and age out of the system, or survivors reaching full retirement age, a natural decline in payments occurs following a major event like the pandemic."
What Happens Next
As more Americans work longer by necessity or choice, survivor claims will inevitably change, Ryan said.
"It demonstrates women's increased workforce participation over 50 years, giving widows more financial options. But it also reveals gaps in our safety net—survivor benefits remain crucial for lower-income families who've lost a primary earner early," he said.
And while fewer survivor claims might temporarily reduce costs for the SSA, it is not clear if it's a permanent demographic shift or temporary trend, Ryan said.
"The changes reflect broader shifts in American society—evolving family structures, changing retirement patterns, and new approaches to financial security in later life," Ryan said. "Policymakers need to consider these realities when discussing Social Security reforms."
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