Originally published on 11/28/25

Ask any Social Security expert and they will tell you that the one thing recipients need to be aware of is their spousal and survivor benefits. Not only can those help maximize one’s monthly checks, but they can also ease the financial burden that can result from losing a significant other. And it seems as though lawmakers agree. Several Congress members recently proposed a new piece of legislation entitled the Surviving Widow(er) Income Fair Treatment (SWIFT) Act, which, if passed, would make it easier for someone to claim their Social Security survivor benefits. To learn more about the act, including when it could potentially be reflected in your monthly checks, keep scrolling! 

What to know about Social Security survivor benefits

Social Security survivor benefits go to people whose late spouse paid Social Security taxes. To qualify, you must be at least 60 years old—or 50 if you have a disability—and show proof you were married for at least 10 years

Currently, the average amount a surviving spouse can receive is 75 percent of the deceased’s basic benefit amount. As of publication, it is believed that 5.8 million Americans nationwide receive some form of benefit. And of that 5.8 million, around 4 million are widows. 

“Spousal benefits can make sense if your own retirement benefit is lower than what you’d receive based on your spouse’s record,” Michael Liner, the founder and head disability attorney at Liner Legal, told Woman’s World earlier this year. “They’re especially valuable for people who spent time out of the workforce or had lower lifetime earnings. But timing matters—claiming before full retirement age locks in a permanently reduced amount.”

How to claim Social Security survivor benefits

To claim Social Security survivor benefits, all one needs to do is have their marriage certificate and their spouse’s Social Security number. From there, they can apply either in person or through the Social Security website. The government organization will then vote to approve or deny your application, resulting in either more money added to one’s monthly checks or no increase at all. 

“A common misconception is that if one spouse claims a spousal benefit, it reduces the benefit the working spouse receives. That’s not true,” says Liner. “Spousal benefits are separate entitlements—your spouse’s check is not cut or reduced when you claim based on their record.”

A look at what changes could be coming to your Social Security survivor benefits

On Wednesday, November 26, several senators introduced the SWIFT Act on the Senate floor. In it, they proposed that people on Social Security who qualify for survivor benefits should be able to receive their money at any age, not just 60 or 50. It would also make it so beneficiaries get all of their survivor benefits—not just 75 percent of them–and expand one’s child-in-care benefits, which could help surviving spouses pay for child support and caregiving costs.  

“Our seniors have spent a lifetime working hard and paying into Social Security, and they deserve to receive adequate benefits and retire with dignity, not spend their golden years just trying to get by,” New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said in a statement. “But outdated rules and antiquated policies mean that too many seniors, especially widowed spouses and women disproportionately, aren’t receiving the benefits they’ve earned or being treated fairly. Our SWIFT Act will help modernize the program and strengthen benefits for our seniors.”

Currently, the bill is still with the Senate, and if it passes there, it will then go to the House of Representatives. If they pass it, it then goes to President Donald Trump’s desk, where he will either sign it into law or veto it. As of publication, there is no news on when voting will take place, meaning there is no news on when Social Security recipients could see the change reflected in their benefits. 

“The SWIFT Act corrects outdated rules and restrictions and removes barriers limiting Social Security benefits— ensuring widows, widowers and surviving divorced spouses receive the Social Security benefits they rightfully deserve,” Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal said in a statement. “Social Security is a lifeline for Americans, playing a critical role in their economic security and financial well-being—and yet, many individuals face burdensome hurdles and arbitrary requirements preventing them from receiving the full benefits they are owed. With this legislation, we make sure that no American is missing out on the benefits they need to live with dignity.” 

Link to original: https://www.womansworld.com/life/money/new-social-security-survivor-benefits-law-could-increase-your-payments