Understanding Social Security Survivors Benefits
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: September 19, 2019
Unfortunately, tragedy can strike without any warning. The loss of the family wage earner can be devastating both emotionally and financially. Social Security helps by providing income for the families of workers who die.
Some of the Social Security taxes you pay go toward survivors benefits for workers and their families. The value of the survivors benefits you have under Social Security may even be more than the value of your individual life insurance. When you die, certain members of your family may be eligible for survivors benefits. These include widows and widowers (and divorced widows and widowers), children, and dependent parents.
Here are the people who can get survivors benefits based on your work:
- Your widow or widower may be able to get full benefits at full retirement age. The full retirement age for survivors is age 66 for people born in 1945-1956, with the full retirement age gradually increasing to age 67 for people born in 1962 or later. Your widow or widower can get reduced benefits as early as age 60. If your surviving spouse is disabled, benefits can begin as early as age 50.
- Your widow or widower can get benefits at any age if they take care of your child younger than age 16 or disabled, who is receiving Social Security benefits.
- Your unmarried children, younger than age 18 (or up to age 19 if they’re attending elementary or secondary school full time), can also get benefits. Your children can get benefits at any age if they were disabled before age 22. Under certain circumstances, we can also pay benefits to your stepchildren, grandchildren, step-grandchildren, or adopted children.
- Your dependent parents can get benefits if they’re age 62 or older. (For your parents to qualify as dependents, you must have provided at least half of their support.)
You can read more our publication Survivors Benefits for more information.
How much your family can get from Social Security depends on your average lifetime earnings. The more you earned, the more their benefits will be. For more information on widows, widowers, and other survivors, visit our webpage.
Social Security is with you through life’s journey. Be sure to tell friends and family about our Survivors Benefits and how we can help in times of need.
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About the Author
Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Gc
Thank goodness, thru out life’s journey
Naomi c.
My husband passed away and all I get is like 259.00 from him but I also had my own and I retired earlu with ss because husband got bad and needed to be with him. Now is this what I get as he collected 2,200.00 a month should I have gotten more? Thank u.
A.C.
Hi, Naomi. We are sorry to hear about your loss. 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.
Christine
What does my daughter have To do first if I die in order to receive any benefits I don’t have family per say to help her when I pass so if I could get the answers now I’ll be able to keep a file for her to refer to or her dad to help her get the benefits she is entitled to if any she is 12 now
Thx Christine
tony
(B) In making any determination with respect to whether an individual is under a disability or continues to be under a disability, the Commissioner of Social Security shall consider all evidence available in such individual’s case record, and shall develop a complete medical history of at least the preceding twelve months for any case in which a determination is made that the individual is not under a disability. See Social Security Act Title ll Section 223.
Why is there such a long back log waiting list for a hearing with the ALJ. The ALJ no longer has to explain the weight given to a treating source. The ALJ only has to develop a complete medical history of at least the preceding twelve months for any case in which a determination is made that the individual is not under a disability.
If the claimant was working and making SGA at the time of the treating source opinion, then the treating source medical opinion doesn’t support that the claimant cannot perform SGA.
Why is the ALJ even wasting time and resources to develop a medical history while the claimant was still performing SGA?
tony
If the claimant is making SGA, then the claimant must quit or get fired from their jobs within 6 months from the time of the treating source medical opinion for it to be an Unsuccessful Work Attempt.
The other exception is if it was sheltered work after the treating source made the medical opinion. There is a strict definition of sheltered work.
Stop wasting time and taxpayers money developing a medical history that doesn’t support that the claimant is disabled.
Pearl
Thanks. That is so true. I do not mind working even as a survivor. Besides rewarding, I always felt good to be able to have done something also. Paying taxes and deductions are good. I will always be there. I hope to do more to keep social security alive. You are a blessing in disguise. That is a complement well deserved. Sincerely, Pearl Lee Thomas.
Mohammed M.
Dear sr
We have alot of thank to asking you
We want you to give us more information about our SSN for my father’s missing some information and details of our SSN
Now we have problems with our family because we are living in onthe countries because our mothers are from Arabian country
Could you please help me and my brother and sister
Thank you
Best reagards
Mohammed M.Giyash
A.C.
Hi, Mohammed. Since you are living outside of the U.S. you can contact your local Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps.
Jose E.
I contacted a disability “Uveitis” from a blood transfusion “Medical Mistake”, I am under Specialist Care, and am allowed to work under the “Ticket to Work”,program!
Victoria F.
Hi, I’m a widow. How do I find out if my benefits will be higher than my late husband’s? In other words, can I claim his benefits when I’m 67 (I was born in 1961) and then claim my benefits when I’m 70 if my payments would be higher? I’m so confused. Do you have a surviving spouse specialist that I can talk to?
A.C.
Hi, Victoria. 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. For more information, please visit our Survivors Planner web page. To learn how much you could be eligible to receive, please call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. We hope this helps.
Andrey A.
Thank you my ssa and benefits from cash! rent home!
KAREN
My Husband died ion May 10th, 2018. I am 72 years old and worked very little outside of our home. About one year before his death my Husband received a letter about his ex- wife having been overpaid before her death. She had been drawing on my Husband’s SOCIAL SECURITY number without us being aware of it. We filed for a waiver to stop repayment and it was granted. Only to my shock when my Husband died, I was not given his “Death Benifits”, it was held back to help with SOCIAL SECURITY’S mistaken overpayment to his ex-wife. Why was I punished for your mistake???
A.C.
Hi, Karen. We are sorry to hear about your loss and your situation. 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. You can ask to speak to a supervisor on your next visit or call. We hope this is resolved soon.