Getty Images What happens to a retired couple’s Social Security benefits when a spouse dies? Often there is a substantial loss of income — a problem that has gotten surprisingly little attention. The surviving spouse will get either the survivor benefit or his or her own retirement benefit, but not both. Social Security will pay the higher of the two amounts. For example, Mr. Jones collects $2,500 a month and Mrs. Jones gets $2,000. After one dies, either survivor will receive $2,500 a month — a 44.4% drop in total benefits. If one spouse’s benefits are small (or none), the impact on income will be small. But, when both spouses are collecting substantial benefits, as is often the case, there will be a substantial reduction that could last for many years.