What are Social Security survivor benefits?
Social Security survivor benefits are payments made to family members when someone who worked and paid Social Security taxes passes away. These benefits are meant to provide financial support to surviving family members, helping them cover living expenses and ease some of the financial burden during this challenging period.
Who is eligible for survivor benefits?
- Spouses: A widow or widower can receive benefits as early as age 60, or age 50 if disabled. If you are caring for the deceased’s child who is under 16 or disabled, you may qualify at any age.
- Children: Unmarried children under 18 (or up to age 19 if they are still in high school) can receive benefits. Children who are disabled and became disabled before age 22 may also qualify.
- Unmarried children up to 18 (19 if they are attending a primary or secondary school full-time)
- Dependent Parents: If the deceased provided at least half of the parent’s financial support, parents age 62 or older, may qualify.
Other family members, such as stepchildren, or grandchildren, may also be eligible in certain circumstances. For more information on eligibility, please visit www.ssa.gov/survivor/eligibility
One-time lump sum payment
In addition to ongoing survivor benefits, a one-time payment of $255 may be made to the surviving spouse or children. This is often referred to as the “death benefit”.
Applying for benefits
You will need to apply for Social Security survivor benefits; they are not automatically provided.
- You can contact Social Security toll-free, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day at 1-800-772-1213. To speak with a representative, call between the hours of 7:00 am and 7:00 pm on regular business days.
- Apply in person by visiting your local Social Security office
- Visit the Social Security website at www.ssa.gov for more information
Keep in mind that certain benefits, like the one-time lump sum payment, may have a time limit for filing, so it is best to contact them as soon as possible.
If you are unsure about your eligibility or need assistance applying, please call us or reach out to Social Security or a trusted advisor.