Social Security Death Benefits

What are Social Security Death Benefits?

By law, everyone who works in the United States is required to pay into Social Security. Upon retirement or the occurrence of other circumstances, such as a debilitating disability, these benefits are paid out to the person who paid in. With the way the system is currently set up, these benefits do not expire upon death. Instead, they are transferred to eligible members of the person's surviving family.

People who can receive Social Security death benefits include:

• A widow or widower (full benefits upon retirement, reduced benefits at age 60, and full benefits for disabled individuals 50 and older)
• A widow or widower who is taking care of a child of the deceased. The child must be under 16 or disabled
• Dependent parents who are 62 or older
• Disabled children of any age
• Unmarried children under the age of 19 who are still in high school
• Stepchildren, grandchildren, and adopted children (circumstances vary with these survivors)

The amount of Social Security death benefits that a survivor can receive depends on several different factors. If you are looking for an accurate estimate, you may want to try using one of the three Benefits Calculators that can be found on the Social Security Administration's website. These calculators provide estimates of your benefits or survivor's benefits using the information that you enter.

If you have any problem, questions, or don't feel like using the calculators, you can also contact the Social Security Administration by calling their toll free number: 800-772-1213. You can also speak with a representative from your local Social Security office.

Special Considerations

As mentioned previously, there are many different factors that determine whether or not you are eligible for Social Security death benefits. These special considerations include, but are not limited to:

• Work: While you can work and receive Social Security death benefits, your benefit amount may be reduced if you make over a certain amount of money.
• Divorce: If you were married for at least ten years and are over the age of 60 (over 50 if you are disabled) you are eligible for benefits even though you are divorced from your spouse. However, you are not generally allowed to receive benefits of a former spouse if you remarry before the age of 60 and stay married.

Applying for Social Security Death Benefits

Applying for Social Security death benefits isn't a difficult process, but you will need to have your affairs in order. Specific information you may need to supply to the Social Security Administration so that they may process your claim includes:

• Your full legal name
• Your Social Security number
• Your date of birth
• Your place of residence
• The deceased person's name, Social Security number, date of birth, date of death, and location of death
• Your citizenship status
• Your military status
• Your earnings for last year, this year, and an estimate of next year
• The deceased person's earnings for the year of their death and the year before their death
• Marriage dates for you and the deceased--this includes pervious marriages for you both
• Information about previous Social Security claims and benefits (if any)

If you don't have some of this information, you shouldn't wait to apply for Social Security death benefits. The Social Security Administration will work with you to get the information and documents you need. The important thing is that you don't wait too long to apply.

The application process itself can be handled in one of three ways:

• Online: www.SSA.gov
• Over the Phone: 800-772-1213
• At a Local Social Security Office: Find an Office Near You