A Social Security Mistake May Have Cost Widows and Widowers Over $50 Million

A March 2026 audit from Social Security's inspector general found that thousands of widows and widowers appear to have been quietly shortchanged.

In some cases, a calculation error lowered monthly payments. In others, the agency never documented whether survivors were told about a filing choice that could have increased their benefits by hundreds of dollars a month. Both problems had been flagged in earlier audits years ago, but as of early 2026, the promised fixes still weren't in place.

If survivor benefits are part of your retirement plan, the details of this report are worth understanding.

The two problems the audit found

The inspector general identified two separate issues, each affecting a different group of survivors. The first was a calculation error. When a worker dies before age 62, Social Security is supposed to use a specific formula that can result in a higher monthly benefit for the surviving spouse.

In 11 out of 70 cases reviewed, employees used the wrong year when running that formula, which produced payments that were too low. The inspector general estimated that about 8,618 widows and widowers were underpaid a combined $50.4 million, or roughly $5,848 per person on average.

The second problem was about what survivors were told, or more accurately, what they were not told. Surviving spouses who qualify for both survivor and retirement benefits have an important filing choice that can significantly affect their monthly income.

In 37 out of 50 cases reviewed, there was no record that anyone at the agency had explained that option. The inspector general estimated that about 5,367 beneficiaries may have missed out on roughly $113.8 million as a result, around $21,204 per person.

Without documentation, there was no way to know whether those people made an informed decision or simply were never given the information they needed.

What the losses looked like in practice

In an example, a widow applied for benefits in 2016 after her husband died at age 32 in 1992. Agency staff used the wrong year in the benefit formula, reducing her monthly check from $2,170 to $1,856. By January 2025, that single error had already cost her more than $35,000, with the projected lifetime loss approaching $99,000.

In another, a widow's file included a note saying she wanted survivor benefits only. Instead, the agency awarded both survivor and retirement benefits at once without fully explaining her options.

That choice left her stuck at $1,826 a month, meaning she could no longer switch to a bigger $2,757 retirement benefit when she turned 70. By the time auditors reviewed her case, she had already lost more than $10,000.

Why the filing choice matters so much

Many surviving spouses don't realize that survivor benefits and retirement benefits don't stack. If you qualify for both, Social Security pays you the higher of the two, not both combined. But the order in which you claim them can permanently affect how much you receive.

A surviving spouse can start collecting survivor benefits as early as 60, with payments increasing the longer you wait. Your own retirement benefit follows a separate timeline and can continue growing until age 70 through delayed retirement credits.

If your retirement benefit is on track to be larger than your survivor benefit by the time you reach 70, it may make sense to collect survivor benefits first and switch to your own retirement benefit later.

It is also worth knowing that survivor benefits are generally paid from the month you apply, not from the date of death, so delays in filing can mean losing money you were already entitled to receive.

What to review in your own claim

If you already receive survivor benefits, or expect to apply for them later, it helps to review a few basic details now.

A good place to start is the benefit calculation. If the worker in your household died before age 62, ask Social Security whether the correct formula was used. A clear calculation mistake is usually easier to fix than a dispute over what you were or were not told.

Next, gather the paperwork tied to your claim. Benefit letters, application confirmations, and anything in writing that shows which benefit you asked for can all help if questions come up later. If you think Social Security made the wrong decision, you generally have 60 days from the date on the notice to ask for reconsideration.

A pattern across three audits

The most troubling part of this audit may be the pattern behind it. Similar WINDEX underpayments were flagged by the inspector general in 2016, and problems with undocumented filing choices were identified in 2018.

Those earlier audits pointed to even larger amounts of money affected. Yet as of early 2026, all the fixes that were promised after those reviews still had not been put in place.

The 2026 audit recommended that Social Security:

• Correct the underpayments that have already been identified
• Review other cases that may have been affected
• Add controls to make sure the WINDEX formula is used when a worker dies before age 62
• Prompt employees to document filing discussions with survivors

The agency said it agreed with those recommendations. Given the history, though, it is reasonable to wonder how quickly those fixes will actually be put in place.

Bottom line

A mistake that costs a widow or widower hundreds of dollars a month is hard to recover from, and the history of these audits suggests it happens more often than it should.

Because the agency has struggled to put permanent fixes in place, your own records may be the most reliable safeguard you have. Verifying the math, understanding your filing options before making a decision, and asking for a second look when something seems off can all help protect your retirement goals when the system isn't catching its own errors.

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