 Social
Security
Benefits |
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Death Benefits |
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The Social Security
Administration will pay a one-time death benefit of $255. to a surviving
spouse, or a dependent child if there is no spouse. The decedent must have
worked and paid into Social Security, and the spouse must be currently
married and not separated at the time of the death. If there is no spouse or
dependent child, there is no death benefit payable. |
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Survivors Benefits |
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Monthly survivors benefits are
usually available to the following family members: |
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● Widows and widowers age 60
or older |
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● Widows and widowers at any
age if caring for the deceased’s child(ren) who are under age 16 or
disabled. |
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● Divorced wives and
husbands age 60 or older, if married to the deceased 10 years or more |
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● Widows, widowers, divorced
wives, and divorced husbands age 50 or older, if they are disabled |
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● Children up to age 18 |
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● Children age 18 - 19, if
they attend elementary school or high school full time |
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● Children over age 18, if
they became disabled before age 22 |
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● The deceased worker’s
parents age 62 or older, if they were being supported by the worker |
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Returned Payments |
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If the deceased
was receiving Social Security benefits, any checks which arrive after death
will need to be returned to the Social Security office. If Social Security
checks were being directly deposited into a bank account, the bank needs to
be notified of the death also. |
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Contact Social Security |
| You can apply for benefits at
any Social Security office, or over the phone at
1-800-772-1213. |
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| Depending on the benefits
applied for, you may need any of the following documents: |
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● Your Social Security
number and the deceased worker’s Social Security number |
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● A death certificate |
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● Proof of the deceased
worker’s earnings for last year (W-2 forms or self-employment tax return) |
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● Your birth certificate |
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● A marriage certificate, if
you are applying for benefits as a widow, widower, divorced wife, or
divorced husband |
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● A divorce decree, if you
are applying for benefits as a divorced wife or husband |
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● Children’s birth
certificates and Social Security numbers, if applying for children’s
benefits |
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● Your checking or savings
account information, if you want direct deposit of your benefits |
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You will need to
submit original documents or copies certified by the issuing office. You can
mail or bring them to the Social Security office, where they will make
photocopies and then return your documents |
