When Tragedy Occurs, Your Family Can Count on Us
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 6, 2023
Tragedy strikes without warning. For families who lose a wage earner, it can have a devastating financial impact in addition to the emotional one.
Acting Commissioner Carolyn Colvin says that Social Security touches the lives of every American, often in times of tragedy and uncertainty. It’s true. Our programs go beyond retirement and disability benefits. Social Security helps care for the surviving families of deceased entitled workers.
If you work, some of the Social Security taxes you pay now go toward survivors benefits for workers and their families. In the event of your death, certain family members — widows, widowers (including your divorced spouse), children and dependent parents — may be eligible for survivors benefits. Social Security’s survivors benefits may be more valuable than your individual life insurance.
The benefit amount your family is eligible for depends on your average lifetime earnings. The more you earned, the more their benefits will be. Check your Social Security Statement to see an estimate of survivors benefits we could pay. You can create a secure my Social Security account to access your Statement anytime and see an estimate of these benefits. With a my Social Security account, you can also see an estimate of your retirement and disability benefits, and ot her important information. You can also visit our Benefits Planner to help you better understand your and your family’s, Social Security protection as you plan for your financial future.
In certain circumstances, we also make a one-time payment of $255 to your spouse or child if you’ve worked long enough. Survivors must apply for this payment within two years of the date of death.
For more information about how Social Security’s survivors benefits can help your surviving dependents, please read Survivors Benefits or visit our website. No one likes to think about death, but, unfortunately, it’s inevitable. When it happens, know that you can count on Social Security to be there for your loved ones.
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Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
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Mary
My mother passed away back in 1993 when I was only 14 years old. I was never able to claim the survivor benefits is it still of claiming that benefit?
R.F.
Mary, your question is more complex than we can address in this forum. You will need to contact your local office, or call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213, and speak to one of our representatives. Representatives at our toll free number are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. Thanks.
Mary
thank you so much!
Lucy
How can a ex recieve your husbands benefits when the have thier own and you have no income but have to wait until your a certain age and she is younger then you how is that fair
A.C.
Hi, Lucy. To be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, the former spouse had to be married to your husband for at least 10 years, be age 62 or older and she cannot be eligible for a higher benefit on her own record. Also, the amount of benefits she receives as a divorced spouse has no effect on the amount of benefits your husband or you, the current spouse, may receive. As for you, you may be able to get spouse’s retirement benefits if you are at least 62 years of age and your spouse is receiving retirement or disability benefits. We hope this helps.
Kevin
My sister died, left money in the bank for me.
To get a death certificate I need a Social security number. I contact social security told I need a death certificate as it stands I can not obtain either.
Roger
Our daughter recently passed away and we filed for her son to receive survivor benefits with us as the responsible party. There is no father. My question is do we qualify for the child in care benefit or is that only for spouses?
Thanks
Mia
My husband passed away in June 2016 and was collecting SSDI at the time of his death. We were legally married and living together when he passed away. I have a 22 year old stepson who collects Survivor benefits from my husband, who is his biological father, because my stepson is disabled according to the SSA. My stepson lives with me and I provide his care. He was awarded disability benefits by the SSA before age 22. It is my understanding that I should be eligible for Fathers-Mothers Survivor benefits as long as my husband and I were married at the time of his death and I provide care for his disabled adult child. According to SSA publications the disabled adult child must only be the biological child of the deceased, even if I have not adopted the disabled adult child. Am I correct that I should be eligible for benefits?
R.F.
Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can answer in this forum. We will need more detail information about your situation. Please contact your local office or call 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and ask a representative to assist you. Thanks.
Leatha M.
Was wondering I know someone who was only married for six years,and became a widow. Does she qualify for social security payments too? Her two children collect and their ages at the time of his death were three and five.He also has three other children too.
K.O.
Hello Leatha. According to our Program Operations Manual (POMS), an applicant for surviving spouse benefits, must meet the 9 months duration-of-marriage requirement. Additionally, unmarried children can receive benefits if they are:
• younger than age 18 (or up to age 19 if they are attending elementary or secondary school full time);
• any age and were disabled before age 22 and remain disabled.
Under certain circumstances, benefits also can be paid to stepchildren, grandchildren, stepgrandchildren or adopted children. Hope this helps.
Liz
I am 52 years old, divorced for 9 years now was married to my ex husband for 21 years. He is now 71 and has been drawing social security for at least 5 years for him and our daughter as well as disability benefits from the VA (ARMY) since his ALS diagnosis last year. Our minor daughter is 11 and now resides with me full time. I am having financial difficulty taking care of her and trying to work full time. I may have to leave my job or change careers to take care of her, what if any am I entitled to? Thanks
Brian
Im going to try this again to see If I can get an answer.
my wife of 7 and half years died. We have 3 children. She never worked. I cannot get any benefits from social security because of this. She worked at raising our children and provided daycare for our children for the 7 and half years we were married. Seems kind of unfair I am left with no help because she didn’t work for the little bit of credits required before she died. I believe this needs to change as I have no help from the government in survivor benefits. If she would of worked some small part time job before she died, I would of had help. Very angry about this. Is this true my children cannot get survivor benefits because my wife had no work credits?
Thanks for the response.
R.F.
We are sorry for your loss Brian, our apologies if we missed your question before. The number of credits you need to have family members be eligible for survivors benefits depends on your age when you die. The younger you are, the fewer credits you need, but nobody needs more than 40 credits (10 years of work). Under a special rule, we can pay benefits to your children and your spouse who is caring for the children, if you have credits for one and one-half year’s work (6 credits) in the three years just before your death. Credits are the “building blocks” we use to find out whether you have the minimum amount of covered work to qualify for each type of Social Security benefits. No benefits can be paid if you do not have enough credits. You have the right to file an application for benefits for your children and receive an official denial of your claim from Social Security, which will provide you appeals rights, if in case you wish to seek legal advice to verify our decision. If you have specific questions, or need further assistance, please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks.
Brian
Thank you for your reply, being a homemaker and care for the kids seems like a job that should be considered as credits. My situation is a very small percentage of cases. Thanks again.
David
My father passed away last August. I am disabled and my mother and I are to get mother’s and disabled adult child benefits off my father’s record. We have yet to get the benefit we were told we would receive, I’m still just getting SSI while my mother works her low-paying job.
My mother called the national hotline 3 times already, first time in January being told a urgent notice was put in by the local office and that we are approved just not finished processing, another urgent notice put in. 2nd call was told it’s taking long cause it’s a complicated case and there’s many layers to go through but it’s the last layer with the payroll department, another urgent notice put in. 3rd time my mother called in February and was told it’s going to a supervisor, shouldn’t have to call again. It’s been over 2 weeks since that last call. It just seems calling does no help at all, and I don’t if the local office can help at the point it’s at? Is there anything that can be done, it’s been 7 months since my father’s death?
A.C.
Hi, David. We are sorry to hear about your unpleasant experience and understand your frustration. For your security, we do not have access to personal information in this venue. Please continue working with your local office, and if necessary, ask to speak with the manager to see how we can help to expedite resolution of your situation. Thanks!
Karen
Good evening-
Question re: SSA-1724 (Claim for amounts due in the case of a deceased social security recipient). Deceased was 77 yrs old & divorced. No minor/dependent children. Predeceased by 2 adult children with 2 adult children remaining. Died with a will in place writing out 1 adult surviving child and naming a Personal Representative (non-child) for estate. Waiting for Probate Court to approve Personal Representative. Who fills out the form & receives amounts due from Social Security (remaining adult child(ren) and/or grandchildren or the Personal Representative for the Estate?
A.C.
Hi, Karen. Thanks for your question. We may pay amounts due a deceased beneficiary to a family member or legal representative of the estate. For more information on the order of preference and to file a claim for the amounts due in the case of a deceased beneficiary, please visit our webpage titled: Claim For Amounts Due In The Case Of Deceased Beneficiary. Please take or send the completed form to your local Social Security office. If you have any questions, call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the day. We hope this information is helpful.