Form SSA-4111 Certificate of Election for Reduced Widow(er)’s and Surv

Form Approved
OMB No. 0960-0759

Social Security Administration

CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION FOR REDUCED WIDOW(ER)'S AND
SURVIVING DIVORCED SPOUSE'S BENEFITS
1. Print Name of Wage Earner or Self-Employed Person
(Hereafter called "Worker")

Enter His or Her Social Security Number

2. Print Your Full Name (First name, middle initial, last name)

Enter Your Social Security Number (If "none" or "unknown"
so indicate.)

INFORMATION ABOUT REDUCED WIDOW(ER)'S AND
SURVIVING DIVORCED SPOUSE'S BENEFITS
The law requires that you complete and return this Certificate of Election if you wish to receive a reduced widow's, widower's or
surviving divorced spouse's benefit and are at least age 62 and under full retirement age (FRA).
The following will affect the amount of your benefit:
• The month and year you elect to begin to receive benefits will determine the amount of your monthly payments which will
continue at a reduced rate even after you reach FRA.
• Depending on your date of birth, the rate of reduction applied to your benefit amount can range from 19/40 to 19/56 of
1 percent times the number of months from the start of the reduced benefits until the month you reach FRA.
• If another beneficiary is entitled to a monthly survivor benefit on this Social Security number, your benefit may be reduced
by the total family benefit payable in the month. The benefit paid to a surviving divorced spouse will not affect the benefit
amount paid to other family members who receive benefits on the same record.
INFORMATION ON HOW BENEFITS ARE AFFECTED IF THE DECEASED WORKER RECEIVED REDUCED
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
If the deceased worker received retirement benefits before FRA, the maximum survivor's benefit is limited to the higher amount
that the deceased worker would have received if still alive or 82.5 percent of the deceased worker's unreduced benefit. Because
of this limit, delaying receipt of reduced benefits will not necessarily increase the monthly benefit amount payable. We will review
your election in item 3 below to make sure that the month selected maximizes your benefit amount.
3. I elect to accept permanently reduced benefits as provided in Section 202(q) of the
Social Security Act, beginning with

MONTH

YEAR

Enter any month beginning with the month of the deceased worker's death up to, but not
including the month you reach FRA provided that the month you choose is within the past
12 months.
I declare under penalty of perjury that I have examined all the information on this form, and on any accompanying
statements or forms, and it is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Signature (First name, middle initial, last name) (Write in ink)

Date (Month, day, year)
Telephone Number (include area code)

Mailing Address (Number and street, Apt. No., P.O. Box, or Rural Route)
City and State

ZIP Code

Enter Name of County (if any) in which you now live

Witnesses are required ONLY if this certificate has been signed by mark (X) above. If signed by mark (X), two witnesses to the
signing who know the person completing this certificate must sign below, giving their full addresses.
1. Signature of Witness

2. Signature of Witness

Address (Number and street, City, State and ZIP Code)

Address (Number and street, City, State and ZIP Code)

Form SSA-4111 (12-2013) EF (12-2013)
Destroy Prior Editions

(over)

See Revised Privacy Act
Privacy Act Statement Statement Attached
Collection and Use of Personal Information
Sections 202(e), (f), and (q)(3) of the Social Security Act, as amended, authorize us to collect this information. We will
use the information you provide to determine your eligibility for reduced benefits as a widow(er) or a surviving
divorced spouse.
Furnishing us this information is voluntary. However, failing to provide us with all or part of the information could prevent
an accurate and timely decision on this claim.
We rarely use the information you supply for any purpose other than to determine your eligibility for reduced benefits.
However, we may use the information for the efficient administration of our programs. We may also disclose information
to another person or agency in accordance with approved routine uses, including but not limited to the following:
1. To enable a third party or an agency to assist Social Security in establishing rights to Social Security benefits
and/or coverage;
2. To comply with Federal laws requiring the release of information from our records (e.g., to the Government
Accountability Office and Department of Veterans Affairs);
3. To make determinations for eligibility in similar health and income maintenance programs at the Federal, State,
and local level; and,
4. To facilitate statistical research, audit, or investigative activities necessary to assure the integrity and improvement
of our programs (e.g., to the Bureau of the Census and to private entities under contract with us).
We may also use the information you provide in computer matching programs. Matching programs compare our records
with records kept by other Federal, State, or local government agencies. We use the information from these programs to
establish or verify a person’s eligibility for federally funded or administered benefit programs and for repayment of
incorrect payments or delinquent debts under these programs.
A complete list of routine uses for this information is available in our Privacy Act System of Records Notice entitled,
Claims Folders Systems, 60-0089. Additional information about this and other system of records notices and our
programs are available from our Internet website at www.socialsecurity.gov or at your local Social Security office.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement - This information collection meets the requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507, as
amended by section 2 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. You do not need to answer these questions unless we
display a valid Office of Management and Budget control number. We estimate that it will take about 2 minutes to read
the instructions, gather the facts, and answer the questions. SEND OR BRING THE COMPLETED FORM TO YOUR
LOCAL SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE. You can find your local Social Security office through SSA’s website at
www.socialsecurity.gov. Offices are also listed under U. S. Government agencies in your telephone directory or
you may call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1- 800-325-0778). You may send comments on our time
estimate above to: SSA, 6401 Security Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401. Send only comments relating to our
time estimate to this address, not the completed form.

Form SSA-4111 (12-2013) EF (12-2013)