A proposal has been introduced in Congress that would increase Social Security survivors benefits for widowed individuals and surviving divorced spouses.

Why It Matters

Survivor benefits are currently paid to around 5.8 million Americans nationwide, with nearly 4 million of those being widowed.

Under current law, certain survivors of Social Security claimants can get related benefits at any age providing they meet certain rules—however, these benefits are reduced if they are under the earliest possible retirement age of 62. Most former spouses, age 60 or older (or age 50 to 59 if they have a disability), can claim benefits after the death of a spouse or ex-spouse, if the marriage lasted at least 10 years.

What To Know

Proposed legislation introduced in Congress this week by several D

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