New Resources to Educate School Employees and Survivors
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: January 2, 2025
We’ve released new resources to help prevent people from missing out on benefits they may be eligible to receive. We designed these easy-to-use toolkits to educate professionals and organizations about our programs for children and our benefits for families after the death of a loved one.
Our toolkits are in a downloadable PDF format and include ready-to-go communications, including sample email blasts, newsletter articles, handouts, and social media posts.
School Professionals Toolkit
The Social Security Benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Payments for Children: A Guide for School Professionals Toolkit is for teachers, school counselors, and other educators. It is intended to help them educate parents and guardians about the financial help we provide. We make payments to students with disabilities and to those who have experienced the loss of a parent or have a parent who is receiving retirement or disability benefits.
The toolkit discusses:
- Eligibility requirements.
- How to apply.
- How to respond to requests for school records and forms.
- Evidence we need from school professionals to determine whether a child with a disability may be eligible for SSI.
Survivors Benefits Toolkit
The Social Security Survivors Benefits Toolkit – A Guide for Organizations is for funeral homes, care facilities, and other organizations working with people who have lost a loved one. It was created to increase awareness about survivors benefits for eligible family members. We make monthly payments to spouses, minor children, adult children with disabilities, and dependent parents of workers who paid Social Security taxes before they died.
The toolkit discusses:
- Eligibility requirements.
- How to apply.
- Evidence we need to process applications.
We’ve also released YouTube videos about How Social Security Survivors Benefits Work and testimonials from two Social Security employees whose grandmothers relied on survivors benefits to support their children after their husbands died. The videos are in English and Spanish.
Episode 4 of SSA Talks, our audio series, provides details about the benefits we pay to children who have a parent who is deceased and to children with disabilities.
Other Toolkits
We offer other toolkits to increase awareness about our programs and benefits. These include our:
- Youth Toolkit 2024 to help students receiving SSI payments make a successful transition to adulthood.
- Faith-Based and Community Groups Outreach Toolkit to help them educate their members and clients about financial assistance, including SSI.
- Educator Toolkit to help teachers educate students about why Social Security was created, why it’s important today, and how FICA taxes work. It includes lesson plans, talking points, and sample homework assignments.
- Ticket to Work Service Provider Outreach Toolkit to support organizations that help people with disabilities enter (or re-enter) the workforce.
These toolkits include sample email blasts, newsletter articles, fact sheets, infographics, and social media posts.
More resources are available at our webpages, Information for People Helping Others and Information for Groups and Organizations. Don’t forget to subscribe to our Advocates webpage.
Please spread the word about all our toolkits with your co-workers, colleagues, and others who may find them useful.
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Tags: Social Security benefits, survivors benefits
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Michelle H.
Great to see that the Social Security Administration provdies resources for school employees and survivors. When I was student, I’ve learned about social work, public policy, or education a lot. It was always hard for me to balance school and advocacy work, so one of the patients recommended to see https://customwriting.com/assignments.html page. From that time, I know the importance of building safety nets and communities. It could be a great case study or discussion topic in a class focused on social systems and public services. Will pass it to my teacher.
Phil
When will information be available for those of us affected by WEP and GPO?
Shirley
Continue to try to find out my adjusted SS benefits after the WEP was abolished. No where to find my answers. Signed in to SS says I don’t have correct email (only one I have)
S.D.
Thanks for reading our blog, Shirley. The Social Security Administration is awaiting the possible final enactment of the Social Security Fairness Act into law and rules for implementation. We will provide more information on our website, ssa.gov as it becomes available. We hope this helps.
Phil
What do you mean by “possible” final enactment? Does that refer to the possibility of President Biden not signing it?
quacy m.
i just went outside in canarsie psychosocial and monty going to meet me spending money, my ssi money or payee money
Mark F.
When will payments changed for this of us affected by the WEP or GPO? Congress has passed the repeal of these provisions. In addition, the bill includes retroactive pay for 2024. When will that be paid?
William G.
Please publish information on Fairness Act, need more information, my wife and I both are affected by this legislation in a good way
Rodney S.
SSA.gov has been suspiciously quiet on this news. My understanding is that the president has yet to sign it into law. However, it is newsworthy so it is odd that there is no mention of it on this site. It will affect me as well.
S.D.
Hi, Rodney. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. The Social Security Administration is awaiting the possible final enactment of the Social Security Fairness Act into law and rules for implementation. We will provide more information on our website, ssa.gov as it becomes available.
S.D.
Hi, William. Thanks for reading our blog and for your comments. The Social Security Administration is awaiting the possible final enactment of the Social Security Fairness Act into law and rules for implementation. We will provide more information on our website, ssa.gov as it becomes available.
S.D.
Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions, Mark. The Social Security Administration is awaiting the possible final enactment of the Social Security Fairness Act into law and rules for implementation. We will provide more information on our website, ssa.gov as it becomes available.
Christiana O.
I was a military spouse for
19.5 years. I divorced my husband after 25 years of marriage. He remarried, but also divorced 7 years later. I’m not married and have a disability. I’m now 71 years old. Both my children are honorable veterans. My son died suddenly this past November. He left behind a 6 year old child and a wife. I know my grandson is eligible to receive benefits. His widow probably too, even though she has a great job and was the primary earner. My son suffered with PTSD and was under the care of the VA. I live on Social Security and can’t make ends meet. My question, am I eligible to receive benefits from my former husband, who has also died??
S.D.
Hi, Christiana. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. If you’re already receiving retirement benefits, you can only get benefits as a surviving divorced spouse if your benefits as a survivor are higher than your own benefit amount. To discuss your eligibility with a representative, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., or contact your local Social Security office. For more information, visit our Who can get Survivor benefits webpage. If your daughter-in-law wants to schedule an appointment to apply for survivors benefits on behalf of your grandchild, she should call 1-800-772-1213. You may be able to receive other assistance from the state in which you live. To learn about services in your community and to find out if you’re eligible, you can contact your state or local social services agency or welfare office. For other resources, check out our blog: How Connecting to Benefits Programs Can Save You Money. We hope this helps.
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Joyce P.
My daughter was living with her father from age 9 to 17. I provided her medical insurance through my job. She struggled with social anxiety and depression. Her father was not willing to have her evaluated and convinced her I was over protective. At age 20 she quit college and her job, at age 24 she came to live with and was soon diagnosed with severe schizophrenia. How can I prove she was sick long before she 22. Her father died 4 years ago but many family members observed her illness
before age 22.
S.D.
Hi, Joyce. Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions. We pay Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits to adults who have a disability that began before they were 22 that prevents them from doing substantial work. The benefit is paid on the record of a parent who is deceased or who receives Social Security retirement or disability benefits. For more information, visit our Disability Planner. If your daughter applies for DAC benefits, we will ask for medical evidence to show that her disabling condition began before age 22. You may wish to review Section 12.00-Mental Disorders of our online Listing of Impairments. To learn how you can help your daughter with the disability application process, visit Information for People Helping Others. We hope this helps.