TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Barschkett, Mara
AU  - Tréguier, Julie
        TI  - Spousal Death, Mental Health and Survivor Benefits
        PY  - 2026/Feb/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 18385
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp18385
        AB  - 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.
        KW  - widowhood
KW  - survivor benefits
KW  - mental health
KW  - antidepressant use
KW  - income security
        ER  -