The Importance of Social Security Survivors Benefits
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 3, 2023
Most people don’t like to think about death. We plan for life, for that day when we retire, for the places we’ll go and the things that we’ll do then. Unfortunately, death is a part of life we must prepare for. The death of a worker is devastating for the entire family, not only emotionally, but also financially.
Social Security is here to help you secure today and tomorrow with financial benefits, tools, and information to help support you throughout life’s journey. Part of that promise is protection for your family when a worker dies. Some of the Social Security taxes you pay go toward survivors benefits for your family. When an income earner dies, certain members of the family may be eligible for survivors benefits, such as widows and widowers, including divorced widows and widowers; children; and dependent parents. The amount of benefits your family receives depends on your lifetime earnings. The higher your earnings are, the higher the benefits will be. The value of your survivors benefit is probably more than the value of your individual life insurance.
You can check 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. To review your Social Security Statement online, create 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 Statement.
When a worker dies, we recommend that their survivors apply for benefits right away. You can apply by telephone or at any Social Security office. For more information about survivors benefits, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/survivors. If you think you qualify, please don’t wait. Apply today.
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Tags: my Social Security, my Social Security account, retirement benefits, social security, Social Security benefits, Social Security statement, Social Security taxes, survivors benefits
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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The d.
My wife of 10 years passed away May 17 19th 2019 I received a letter in the mail about her benefits and my youngest stepdaughter with the bench I’ve taking care of my wife for the last four years and she was sick if you give me a call back at 918-954-2576 and her name is Debbie Jamison and my name is Israel Ramos The day she was found deceased I was in able to find her card so I do not know where the payment for last month when you said you could give me a call back as soon as possible I greatly appreciate
deanna h.
How is the decision made to see if you qualify for the government pension offset? What info is needed from me and is there assistance offered. I have met most of the requirements for an exemption according to the current info and have been approved for widows benefits.
J.Y.
Thank you for your question, Deanna. A pension based on work that is not covered by Social Security (for example, Federal civil service and some State or local government agencies, such as police officers and some teachers) may cause the amount of your Social Security benefit to be reduced. Your benefit can be reduced based on one of two provisions: The Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision. To learn more, visit here.
Carlos
Why is it so hard to create a username and password on your page
Richard N.
I have suffered with a mental disability all my life long before the age of 22 but was not diagnosed until 2017 and that’s when I received my SSI disability. So do I qualify for survivors benefits on my moms SSI even though she died in September 2015.
A.C.
Hi, Richard. Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Karen K.
My husband passed away in 2012. At the end of 2018 I turned 60. I have not remarried and was told I need to wait until I was 60 before I was able to draw on his social security. I am not sure how I am to go about doing this. What should my first move be?
A.C.
Hi, Karen. We are sorry to hear about your loss. You are eligible to apply for survivor benefits when you reach age 60 (age 50 or over if disabled). For more information about widow’s benefits, check out our survivors planner here. We hope this helps.
Georgie K.
Im inquiring about signing my daughter up for death benefits. Her father recently died in March of this year. I was never married to her father so Im not inquiring about myself. Im just inquiring only for my daughter. What do I need to do to go about getting those benefits for her?
A.C.
Hi, Georgie. We are sorry to hear about your loss. When person dies, his 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 here. You can also visit our Survivors Benefits web page for more information about our survivors’ benefits. We hope this helps!
Kay C.
I was married in 1970 My Husband Died in 1999 At the age of 49 can I add his retirement to what I’m receiving
A.C.
Hi, Kay. The amount of your widow’s benefit is based on several factors, including: the earnings of your husband, when he started receiving his benefits, your age, and the amount of your own retirement benefit. We compare your own benefit with your potential survivor benefit. If your survivor benefit would be higher than your own current retirement benefit, you would be eligible for survivor benefits. To learn how much you could be eligible for, please call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the day. You can also learn more information about Survivors benefits here. If you have not reached the required age, you can also visit our page, “Survivor Planner: If You Are The Survivor,” for more information. We hope this helps!
Edward D.
Hi. My aunt just passed away recently. I would like to know if SSA can help with the expenses of the cremation. thanks in advance.
A.C.
Hi, Edward. We are sorry to hear about your loss. The Lump-Sum Death benefit of $255 (a one-time payment) may be payable upon the death of a person who has worked long enough to be insured under Social Security. An application for the Lump-Sum death payment must be submitted within two years from the insured person’s death. Only eligible family members may be able to receive the one-time payment and monthly survivor benefits. For more information on this, please read our publication, How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies. Thanks.
Edna T.
My former spouse whom I cared for until his death due to alcoholism have 2 sons who are now grown. At the time of his death, I was forced to stop my career as a federal employee and because the agency was undergoing a reduction in force, I was informed that I had enough time plus I had 2 years and 11 months of military service. Not until I was 65 did I apply for survivor benefits and at the urging of Social Security for my own worker benefits because they claimed they would be more. As a result, Social Security gives me $634 and they keep $135.50 for Medicare. This means they keep $2127 of benefits I have worked for and all benefits due me as a sole survivor. I paid into retirement during my CSRS years 1972 through 1996 and should be paid that money and paid into Social Security and should be not have a reduction because it was fully paid benefits. In addition, I married when I was 61 and that spouse died in 2017 and absent the laws would receive $1628 because he was disabled from a former job where he was awarded WC benefits until he became 62 years of age. I am just learning today about the ramifications of the Catch 62 which my agency should have taken when I retired after my deceased spouse’s death but was given none of the information I needed to make the right decision. The HR department referred me to a case Collins vs OPM but it did not give adequate information and I now find that had they taken the funds when I was forced to take retirement because of time in service eligibility that I would not have had my benefits reduced under CSRS as the result of GPO and WEP legislation that was misleading from both HR Muskogee and Social Security. I want my case reviewed and some type of retribution and want a platform to ensure no other person with entitlement to short time military active duty service, civil service retirement system, private sector social security benefits and survivor benefits are not robbed of benefits they truly need should they become disabled like I did at 66 years old.
V.V.
HI Edna. A non-covered pension, a pension based on work that is not covered by Social Security (for example, Federal civil service and some State or local government agencies such as police officers and some teachers), may cause the amount of your Social Security benefit to be reduced. Your benefit can be reduced based on one of two provisions: The Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision. See our Information for Government Employees web page for details.
Linda S.
if a wife dies is the husband eligable for her benefits
A.C.
Thanks for your question, Linda. A husband may be eligible for reduced widow’s benefits as early as age 60 (age 50 if disabled) and he meets all of the eligibility factors. For more information, please go to our Survivors Planner page and read our publication, How Social Security Can Help – When A Family Member Dies. We hope this helps.