Social Security Benefits

A MESSAGE FROM SOCIAL SECURITY

If the deceased was receiving benefits, you need to contact Social Security to report the death. If you think you may be eligible for survivor’s benefits, you should contact Social Security.

HOW SOCIAL SECURITY HELPS FAMILIES

Social Security survivor’s benefits help ease the financial burden that follows a worker’s death. Almost all children under the age of 18 will receive monthly benefits if a working parent dies. Other family members may be eligible for benefits as well.

Anyone who has worked and paid Social Security taxes has been earning Social Security benefits for their family. The amount of work needed to pay survivor’s benefits depends on the worker’s age at the time of death. It may be as little as 1-1/2 years for a young worker. No one needs more than 10 years.

WHO CAN RECEIVE SURVIVOR’S BENEFITS?

Here is a list of who can usually receive:

·         Widows and widowers age 60 and older

·         Widows and widowers at any age if caring for the deceased’s child/children who are under the age of 16 years or disabled

·         Divorced spouses age 60 and older, if married to the deceased 10 years or more

·         Widows, widowers, divorced spouses age 50 and older, if they are disabled.

·         Children under 18 years old

·         Children age 18-19 if they attend elementary of high school full time

·         Children over the age of 18, if they become disabled before age 22

·         The deceased worker’s parents age 62 and older, if they were being supported by the worker

A SPECIAL ONE-TIME PAYMENT

In addition to the monthly benefits for family members, a one-time payment of $255 can be paid to a spouse who was living with the worker at the time of death. If there is none it can be paid to:

·         A spouse who is eligible for benefits

·         A child or children who are eligible for benefits

*This payment cannot be paid if there is no eligible spouse of child.

HOW TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS

You can apply for benefits by telephone or by going to any Social Security office. You may need some of the documents listed on the list below. Do not delay your application because you do not have all the information. I you do not have a document needed, Social Security can help you get it.

INFORMATION NEEDED

·         Your Social Security number and the deceased worker’s

·         Proof of the deceased worker’s earnings for last year (W-2 forms or self-employment tax return)

·         Your birth certificate

·         A marriage certificate, if you are applying for benefits as a widow, widower or divorced spouse

·         A divorce decree, if you are applying for benefits as a divorced spouse

·         Children’s birth certificates and Social Security numbers, if applying for children’s benefits

·         Your checking or savings account information, if you would like direct deposit

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Visit any Social Security office or call the toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213. You can speak with a representative weekdays 7am – 7pm.

*NOTE

If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, any checks which arrive after the death will need to be returned to a Social Security office. If the benefits were being deposited directly into a bank account, the bank needs to be notified of the death as well.