Our Lifetime Commitment to You and Yours
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: December 13, 2018
Social Security is here with information, tools, and benefits to help you secure today and tomorrow. Our journey together begins when you’re born and get your Social Security card. It continues when you get your first job and follows you through your entire career, marriage, and retirement. Our commitment is to be with you throughout life’s journey.
Our promise extends to surviving family members when a worker dies.
Some of the Social Security taxes you pay go toward survivors benefits for your family. In the event of your death, certain members of your family may be eligible for survivors benefits; these include widows and widowers, divorced widows and widowers, children, and dependent parents.
The amount of benefits your survivors receive depends on your lifetime earnings. The higher your earnings are, the higher their benefits will be. The value of your survivors benefit may be more than the value of your individual life insurance.
By making sure your earnings are posting correctly, you are passing down protections to your survivors, just as your parents did before you. You can do this by:
- Creating a personal my Social Security account. Your my Social Security account is secure and gives you immediate access to your earnings records, Social Security benefit estimates, and a printable Social Security Statement.
- Visiting our Benefits Planner for Survivors to help you better understand your and your family’s Social Security protection as you plan for your financial future.
- Checking your Social Security Statement to see an estimate of survivors benefits we could pay your family. It also shows an estimate of your retirement and disability benefits and provides other important information.
For more information, please visit our website or read our publication Survivors Benefits. You can also help us spread the word by sharing this information with your family and friends.
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About the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Comments
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Gaye F.
when will we receive our information to do our taxes? last year we already had them, I filed on 01/19/2018.
A.C.
Hi, Gaye. It sounds like you are referring to the SSA-1099 which shows the amount of benefits paid to SSA beneficiaries during last year. The SSA-1099 is mailed by January 31 each year. If for any reason you do not receive your SSA-1099 in the mail by then, starting on February 1, 2019, you can request a replacement SSA-1099/1042S for Tax Year 2018 using your personal my Social Security account. Thanks.
Graham S.
Are social security checks and disability checks still go out with the goverment shutdown 2019?
leo g.
I need a complet list of all money put in my account 491465932
Beverly P.
How long is Social Security funded during the government shutdown?
Tina
If I applied for Disability, will the decision be delayed due to Government Shutdown?
A.C.
Hi, Tina. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is not affected by the potential lapse in appropriations. All services and offices will remain fully operational. Thanks.
DEONNA W.
My son’s father passed away 1/8/19 at age 44. He was a disabled vet and was receiving VA and Social Security benefits. Our son is 19 years old and a fulltime college student. I know that as his exwife I do not qualify for benefits as we were only married legally 5 years. Does our son qualify for any benefits? Also does his step daughter age 26 qualify for any even though she was not legally adopted by him and we were only married 5 years?
A.C.
Hi, Deonna. We’re sorry to hear about your loss. When person dies, his/her minor children can qualify for survivors’ benefits as long as they are under age 18 and unmarried. Also, if they are over 18 and disabled before age 22, they may qualify as well. You can find more information on how children can qualify for survivors’ benefits when a parent dies by reading our publication, Benefits for Children. You can also visit our Survivors Benefits webpage for more information. We hope this helps!
Susan S.
Are we getting our checks inspite of the government shut down
V.V.
Hi Susan: Social Security is not affected by the government shut down. All payments will be made on schedule.
Linda S.
How do I report that I’m now divorced?
V.V.
Hi Linda, thank you for your question. If you’re receiving benefits, please report changes by contacting your local office or call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Paula T.
Will I still receive my Social Security checks during the government shutdown?
A.C.
Hi, Paula. There is no anticipated disruption in benefit payments for Social Security beneficiaries or Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries. All payments will be made on schedule. We hope this helps.
Lynn H.
I’ve know that some SSA employees are furloughed, will that slow down applications, either taking them or processing them since there will be fewer employees available for intake? I realize that checks will go out, just interested in applications.
V.V.
Hi Lynn, thank you for your question. The Social Security Administration (SSA) and all SSA employees are not affected by the lapse in appropriations. All Social Security services and offices remain fully operational.