Social Security survivor benefits payment date - will it follow my husband's birthday or mine?

I'm in the exact same situation! Applied for survivor benefits when I turned 60 last year (my hubby passed in 2022). They go by YOUR birth date, not your husband's. My husband was paid on 3rd Wednesday, but my survivor check comes on 1st Wednesday based on my birth date. It took about 8 weeks for my first payment to arrive after approval, and they included some back pay to my application date.

The SSA website is USELESS on explaining this clearly!! I spent 3 HOURS trying to find this information when my wife died. You'll get paid based on YOUR birthday, not his. They restructure it as if it's YOUR benefit now, even though it's calculated from his earnings record. The whole system is needlessly confusing and they make it impossible to get simple answers without waiting on hold for hours!!

To answer your question clearly: Survivor benefits payment dates follow YOUR birth date, not your deceased spouse's. The payment schedule is: - Born on 1st-10th: Second Wednesday - Born on 11th-20th: Third Wednesday - Born on 21st-31st: Fourth Wednesday Since your birthday is on the 28th, you'll receive payments on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Also, be aware that when you first start receiving benefits, there might be an adjustment period, so the first payment might not follow this schedule exactly. After that, it should regularize to the fourth Wednesday pattern.

when my mom started getting my dads ss after he died the check came on her birthday schedule not his. she also had to wait almost 3 months to get approved so dont panic if it takes time

I've been trying to reach SSA for weeks about my own survivor benefits question, and it's been IMPOSSIBLE. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real person at SSA in under 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Saved me hours of redial hell. The agent confirmed that survivor benefits follow YOUR birth date for payment scheduling, not your spouse's.

I just wanted to update everyone - my application was approved! It took about 5 weeks from application to approval. And yes, they are scheduling my payments based on MY birth date (4th Wednesday). I got a letter in the mail with all the details. The first payment included some back pay to the application date. Thanks everyone for your help!

That's wonderful news! Congratulations on getting approved so quickly - 5 weeks is actually pretty fast from what I've seen others experience. I'm glad this thread helped clarify the payment schedule question. It's such a relief when you can finally plan your budget around knowing exactly when the money will come in. The back pay is a nice bonus too. Thanks for updating us - it's really helpful for others going through the same process to see how it worked out for you.

So glad to hear you got approved quickly! I'm still waiting on my survivor benefits application - it's been about 3 weeks now. Your post gives me hope that I'll hear back soon. I had the same confusion about payment dates when I applied. The SSA rep I spoke with also seemed rushed and didn't explain much. It's frustrating that such basic information isn't clearly available on their website. Thanks for sharing your experience and congrats on getting through the process!

I'm so sorry for your loss and glad to hear you got approved! Your update is really helpful for others going through this process. I'm actually in a similar situation - my husband passed away in January and I'll be turning 60 in a few months. I've been hesitant to apply because I wasn't sure about all the details, but seeing your experience makes me feel more confident about moving forward. The fact that you got approved in 5 weeks and received back pay is encouraging. Did you apply online or did you have to go into an office? I'm trying to figure out the best way to start the process.

I'm really glad you shared this update! As someone who went through a similar process last year after my spouse passed, I know how stressful it can be when you're trying to figure out basic details like payment schedules while dealing with grief. It's such a relief when you finally get that approval letter and can start planning your finances accordingly. Five weeks is actually quite good timing - mine took about 7 weeks. The back pay to your application date is standard practice, which is why it's worth applying as soon as you're eligible rather than waiting. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone here - these real experiences are so much more helpful than trying to decode the official SSA website!

Thanks for sharing your update! It's so helpful to see real experiences from people who've gone through this process. I'm sorry for your loss, but I'm glad to hear your application was approved relatively quickly. As someone who works with seniors navigating government benefits, I can confirm that 5 weeks is actually pretty good timing - I've seen cases take much longer. The payment schedule information you've shared is spot-on too. One tip for anyone else reading this: once you start receiving survivor benefits, make sure to keep SSA informed if you have any major life changes (like getting remarried or returning to work) as these can affect your benefits. The earnings limit that NeonNinja mentioned is particularly important if you're under full retirement age and decide to work while receiving benefits. Congratulations on getting through what I know can be a complicated and emotionally difficult process!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Diego. What a relief that you got approved so quickly and received that back pay! Your experience really highlights how important it is to have accurate information about these payment schedules - that two-week difference you mentioned can absolutely make or break a tight budget. I'm going through something similar myself (my husband passed away 6 months ago and I'm approaching 60), and this whole thread has been incredibly helpful in understanding what to expect. It's frustrating that the SSA reps are so rushed during these calls when we're dealing with such important financial decisions during an already difficult time. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone - knowing that 5 weeks is a realistic timeline and that the payment follows your birth date (4th Wednesday in your case) gives me a much better sense of what to plan for when I apply. Wishing you all the best as you adjust to this new chapter.

I'm so sorry for everyone's losses shared in this thread. As someone new to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for all the detailed information you've all shared about survivor benefits. My own situation is just beginning - my husband passed away two months ago and I'm 58, so I have a couple years before I can apply for survivor benefits. Reading through Diego's experience and everyone's responses has been so educational. The fact that payment dates follow YOUR birth date rather than your deceased spouse's is exactly the kind of practical detail that's impossible to find clearly explained anywhere official. It's also encouraging to see that 5 weeks for approval is possible - that gives me realistic expectations for when I do apply. This community seems like such a valuable resource for navigating these complex government processes during what's already such a difficult time. Thank you all for being so generous with sharing your experiences and knowledge.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Diego, and congratulations on getting your survivor benefits approved! As someone who's new to this community, I've been following this entire thread and it's been incredibly educational. Your experience really shows how important it is to have clear, accurate information about these processes. The fact that you got approved in 5 weeks with back pay is encouraging for others who are waiting or planning to apply. What strikes me most is how much more helpful this community discussion has been compared to official SSA resources - the payment schedule based on YOUR birth date (not your husband's) is such a crucial detail for budget planning, yet it seems like something their representatives rush through or don't explain clearly. Thank you for taking the time to update everyone with your results. Real experiences like yours make all the difference for people navigating this difficult process during an already challenging time.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Diego! I'm new to this community and currently researching survivor benefits for my own situation. Your detailed account of the 5-week approval process and confirmation that payments follow YOUR birth date (not your spouse's) is incredibly helpful. I'm sorry for your loss, but it's encouraging to see that the process can move relatively quickly and that you received back pay to your application date. The practical details you've shared - like knowing you'll receive payments on the 4th Wednesday based on your birthday - are exactly the kind of information that's so hard to find on the official SSA website. This whole thread has been more informative than hours of trying to navigate government resources. Congratulations on getting through what I know must have been a difficult and stressful process during an already challenging time.