Lost a Spouse? 7 Government Benefits You May Now Qualify For

If you recently lost a spouse, you may qualify for ACA marketplace health plans, survivor Social Security benefits, SNAP, and 4 other federal programs. The most urgent deadline: if you were on your spouse's health insurance, you have 60 days to enroll in new coverage through healthcare.gov. Combined benefits can exceed $15,000 per year. Every program on this page is free to apply for, and most applications take less than 30 minutes. Use our free benefits screener to check all 7 programs at once.

What to Do First

Losing a spouse changes everything. There is no right way to grieve, and no one expects you to handle all of this immediately. But a few things are time-sensitive, and knowing what they are will help you protect yourself financially while you work through the rest at your own pace.

Health insurance is the most urgent issue. If you were covered under your spouse's employer health plan, that coverage typically ends within 30 days of their death. Once it ends, a 60-day clock starts for enrolling in a new plan. Go to healthcare.gov and start a marketplace application. The death of a spouse is a "qualifying life event," which opens a Special Enrollment Period. You do not have to wait for open enrollment. If your income as a single person is now below 138% of the federal poverty level ($20,783 in 2024), you may qualify for Medicaid instead, which has no premiums and no enrollment deadline.

Contact the Social Security Administration as soon as you can. Surviving spouses may be eligible for benefits based on their deceased spouse's earnings record. If you are 60 or older (or 50 or older and disabled), you can receive survivor benefits. If you are caring for the deceased's child who is under 16, you may also qualify regardless of your age. Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.gov to start the process. Some survivor benefits can be paid retroactively for up to 6 months, but applying promptly avoids complications.

If money is tight right now, apply for SNAP (food stamps). Your household size and income have both changed, and many surviving spouses qualify for the first time. SNAP has an expedited processing track: if your monthly gross income is under $150 and you have less than $100 in liquid resources, your state must process your application within 7 days.

Programs You Can Apply For Right Now

You have access to 7 different programs after losing a spouse. Here is how they work together.

ACA marketplace plans are the fastest path to health coverage if you lost your spouse's employer plan. With a lower household income, subsidies can bring your monthly premium close to $0. If your income is low enough for Medicaid in your state, that is even better: zero premiums and zero deductibles. You cannot have both at the same time, but the marketplace application checks your Medicaid eligibility automatically.

Medicare applies if you are 65 or older. If you were covered under your spouse's employer plan and did not enroll in Medicare Part B earlier, you now have a Special Enrollment Period of 8 months to sign up without a penalty. Do not let this window pass. Late enrollment penalties add 10% to your Part B premium for every 12 months you could have enrolled but did not.

SSI (Supplemental Security Income) provides monthly cash payments to people with limited income and resources who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled. After a spouse's death, SSI eligibility is recalculated based on your income alone. If your spouse's income previously put your household over the limit, you may now qualify.

SNAP covers food costs. A single person can receive up to $291 per month. You apply through your state's SNAP office or through fns.usda.gov.

LIHEAP helps with energy bills, which can be hard to manage on a single income. Lifeline takes $9.25 off your monthly phone or internet bill. If you are approved for SNAP, SSI, or Medicaid, you qualify for Lifeline automatically.

Section 8 housing vouchers can cover a large portion of your rent. Waitlists are often long (months to years), so apply early even if you do not need help immediately. Contact your local housing authority to get on the list.

Key Deadlines You Can't Miss

The 60-day ACA deadline is the one that matters most for people who were on a spouse's health plan. Mark the exact date on your calendar. Missing it means months without affordable coverage.

Can You Get Multiple Programs at Once?

Yes. These programs are designed to work together, and most people in this situation qualify for more than one.

Here is a realistic example. A 62-year-old surviving spouse with $14,000 in annual income could receive:

• ACA marketplace plan: Subsidized health coverage (worth about $6,000/year in premium savings)
• SNAP: Up to $291/month in food benefits ($3,492/year)
• LIHEAP: $500 to $2,000 toward energy bills
• Lifeline: $9.25/month off phone or internet ($111/year)
• SSI: Up to $943/month if income and resources are low enough ($11,316/year)

That adds up to roughly $10,100 to $22,900 per year depending on which programs you qualify for. All from applications you can complete in the same week.

Use our benefits screener to see which combination applies to your household size, income, and state.

Common Mistakes People Make After Losing a Spouse

Not checking health insurance deadlines. If you were on your spouse's plan, the 60-day window passes quickly during a period when paperwork feels impossible. Ask a trusted family member or friend to help if you cannot manage it yourself. This one deadline can cost thousands of dollars if missed.

Assuming you do not qualify for survivor Social Security. Survivor benefits are available to a wider group than most people expect. You can collect as early as age 60, or at age 50 if you are disabled. If you are caring for the deceased's child under 16, age does not matter. Even divorced spouses may qualify if the marriage lasted at least 10 years. Visit ssa.gov to check your options.

Not updating your household information for benefit programs. If you already receive SNAP, Medicaid, or other benefits, report the change in household size. Your benefit amount may increase because eligibility is calculated per household. If you were not receiving benefits before, your spouse's death may have changed your eligibility entirely.

Forgetting about Medicare if you are 65 or older. If your spouse's employer plan was your primary coverage, you may not have enrolled in Medicare Part B. You now have 8 months to enroll. After that, you face permanent premium penalties. Visit medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Cashing out your spouse's retirement accounts immediately. If your spouse had a 401(k) or IRA, early withdrawals can trigger taxes and penalties. Consult a financial advisor before making any moves. In the meantime, the benefit programs on this page can help cover immediate expenses so you do not have to drain savings.

Where to Get Help

Social Security Administration. Call 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.gov to apply for survivor benefits. Local SSA offices can help in person.

Healthcare.gov. The federal marketplace at healthcare.gov handles ACA enrollment for most states. You can also call 1-800-318-2596 for help.

Local SNAP office. Apply for SNAP through your state SNAP directory. Many states accept applications through a combined benefits portal.

211 hotline. Dial 2-1-1 from any phone to connect with local assistance programs. Operators can help you find grief counseling, food banks, utility assistance, and other support services. This is free, confidential, and available 24/7 in most areas.

Area Agency on Aging. If you are 60 or older, your local Area Agency on Aging provides free help with benefit applications, Medicare counseling, and other services for older adults. Find yours at eldercare.acl.gov or call 1-800-677-1116.

BenefitsUSA screener. Our free eligibility screener checks all the programs on this page at once. It takes about 5 minutes and does not ask for your Social Security number or any identifying information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my spouse's Social Security benefits?

Yes. Surviving spouses can receive benefits based on the deceased's earnings record. If you are 60 or older, you can receive reduced survivor benefits. At your full retirement age, you can receive 100% of the deceased's benefit amount. If you are caring for the deceased's child who is under 16, you can receive benefits at any age. Apply at ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213.

What happens to my health insurance when my spouse dies?

If you were on your spouse's employer plan, coverage usually ends within 30 days. You have 60 days from the loss of coverage to enroll in an ACA marketplace plan through a Special Enrollment Period. You may also be eligible for COBRA, which lets you continue the employer plan at full cost. Compare both options at healthcare.gov before deciding.

Do I qualify for Medicaid now that my household income changed?

Possibly. Medicaid eligibility is based on your current household income. If your income as a single person falls below your state's Medicaid threshold (138% of the federal poverty level in expansion states, about $20,783 for one person), you may qualify for free health coverage with no premiums.

How do I apply for SNAP after losing a spouse?

Contact your state SNAP office or apply online through your state's benefits portal. Report your current household size and income. If you already receive SNAP, notify your caseworker of the household change so your benefit amount can be recalculated.

Can I collect both survivor Social Security and my own retirement benefits?

Not at the same time at full value, but you have options. You can switch between your own retirement benefit and your survivor benefit at different ages to maximize your total payments. For example, you might collect survivor benefits starting at age 60 and then switch to your own retirement benefit at age 70 if it would be higher. SSA can help you figure out the best strategy.

What is SSI and do I qualify?

SSI (Supplemental Security Income) provides monthly cash payments to people who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled and who have limited income and resources. After losing a spouse, your household income is recalculated based on your income alone. The maximum federal SSI benefit for an individual is $943 per month in 2024. Some states add a supplemental payment on top of that.

How long do I have to apply for survivor benefits?

There is no strict deadline for survivor Social Security benefits, but you should apply as soon as possible. Benefits can be paid retroactively for up to 6 months from your application date, but not further back. Every month you delay beyond that is money you will not recover.

What if I am under 60 and not disabled?

If you are under 60, not disabled, and not caring for a child under 16, you may not qualify for survivor Social Security benefits right now. But you can still apply for other programs on this page. SNAP, LIHEAP, Lifeline, and ACA marketplace plans do not have age requirements. Use our screener to check what you qualify for based on your income and household size.