A gender gap exists in the amount of life insurance benefits received by men and women after the death of a spouse, according to a survey by MetLife.

In general, wives who received life insurance benefits after the death of a spouse obtained an amount equal to about two years of household income, the MetLife Study of the Financial Impact of Premature Death found. Husbands in the same situation received less – only one year’s worth of household income, the survey found.

About three-quarters of beneficiaries did not feel that the amount of the life insurance proceeds they received amply met their needs. These findings underscore the fact that many Americans are underinsured, particularly women, MetLife said.

The death of one spouse leaves deep financial scars on the surviving spouse, unless they have proper life insurance, with more than one-third (36%) of individuals surveyed say they remain financially vulnerable, even five years to seven years after their loss.

The survey found that about half (53%) of widows and widowers who received three or more years of household income in life insurance benefits felt financially secure in the year following their loss, the survey found. The percentage of respondents feeling financially secure drops to 27% for beneficiaries receiving a lesser amount and to only 11% for survivors who collected no life insurance proceeds.

A total of 42% who received no life insurance benefits said they had to borrow money from friends and family compared to 25% of those receiving benefits, according to the survey.

Exactly 36% who received no life insurance benefits relocated homes, compared to 23% of survivors receiving benefits, the survey found.