New Jersey Life and Health Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Preparation Guide

The term that describes the period when a surviving spouse does not receive Social Security benefits is known as the blackout period. This situation typically occurs after the death of the worker, during which the surviving spouse is ineligible to receive certain Survivor Benefits until dependent children reach a certain age or the surviving spouse reaches retirement age. The blackout period can be a critical time because it represents a gap where financial support from Social Security is not available to the surviving spouse, emphasizing the importance of planning for such scenarios.

The other terms mentioned do not accurately describe this specific situation. A waiting period generally refers to the time before coverage starts or benefits are payable and is not specific to Social Security. Coverage period could indicate a timeframe during which an insurance policy is active but does not relate directly to Social Security benefits for a surviving spouse. A grace period is typically a short time allowed after a payment is due, during which coverage remains in force, but it does not apply to Social Security survivor benefits.