%0 Report
        %A Barschkett, Mara
%A Tréguier, Julie
        %T Spousal Death, Mental Health and Survivor Benefits
        %D 2026
        %8 2026 Feb
        %I Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        %C Bonn
        %7 IZA Discussion Paper
        %N 18385
        %U https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp18385
        %X In this paper, we estimate the causal effect of social security income on mental health. We focus on widowhood, a life event associated with large and persistent mental health declines, and exploit a reform of the Dutch survivor benefits system that introduced cohort-based restrictions in benefit eligibility. Using administrative data, we find that reduced access to survivor benefits increases antidepressant use by 9%, accounting for 35% of the overall rise in antidepressant use following spousal death. A mechanism analysis shows that survivor benefits stabilize mental health by smoothing living standards, highlighting the potential welfare gains from well-targeted income support policies.
        %K widowhood
%K survivor benefits
%K mental health
%K antidepressant use
%K income security