A MESSAGE FROM SOCIAL SECURITY

Your funeral director is helping the Social Security office by giving you this information about Social Security benefits. If the deceased was receiving benefits you need to contact us to report the death. If you think you may be eligible for survivor benefits, you should contact us to apply.

HOW SOCIAL SECURITY HELPS FAMILIES

Social Security survivor benefits help ease the financial burden that follows a worker’s death. Almost all children under age 18 will get monthly benefits if a working parent dies. Other family members may be eligible for benefits, too. Anyone who has worked and paid Social Security (FICA) taxes has been earning Social Security benefits for his or her family. The amount of work needed to pay survivors benefits depends on the worker’s age at the time of death. It may be as little as 1 ½ years for a young worker. No one needs more than 10 years.

WHO CAN GET SURVIVORS BENEFITS?

Here is a list of family members who usually can get benefits:

Widows and widowers age 60 or older.

Widows and widowers at any age if caring for the deceased’s children who are age 16 or under or disabled.

Divorced wives and husbands age 60 or older, if married to the deceased 10 years or more

Widows, Widowers, divorced wives or husbands age 50 or older. If they are disabled.

Children up to age 18.

Children age 18 -19, if they attend elementary school or high school full time.

Children over age 18, if they became disabled before age 22.

The deceased worker’s parents age 62 or 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 benefit of $225 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 eligible for benefits.

This payment cannot be made if there is no eligible spouse or child.

HOW TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS

You can apply for benefits by telephone or by going to a Social Security office. You may need some of the documents shown on the list below. But don’t delay your application because you don’t have all the information. If you don’t have a document you need, Social Security can help you get it.

INFORMATION NEEDED

Your Social Security number and the deceased worker’s Social Security number.

A death certificate.

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.

Parts re-printed from form SSA-721 (9-91)