Which pension survivor option should my spouse and I choose?
A single-life pension pays the most each month but stops when the retiree dies. A joint-and-survivor pension pays less while both spouses are alive and keeps paying the surviving spouse for life. The larger the survivor share, the lower the starting payment.
For private-sector plans covered by the federal survivor-annuity rules, a joint-and-survivor payment is the default for married participants, with a survivor share somewhere between half and all of the joint payment; choosing less protection generally requires the spouse's written, witnessed consent. Government and church plans may differ, and the plan decides which percentages it offers.
The question is how the surviving spouse's income would look without the full pension: Social Security after one spouse's death, savings and spending all matter.
Reviewed by Bay Area Wealth Advisors. Last reviewed 2026-10-04. Educational information only — not individualized financial, tax or legal advice.