How Social Security Survivor Benefits Work When the family member who Beneficiary of Social Security Died the Qualified family member are entitled to claim for Survivor Benefits,This article cut across the eligibility,amount and How to claim.
What are Social Security survivor benefits?
As you work, you pay into Social Security and earn work credits toward your eligibility to receive benefits. In 2024, you earn one credit for every $1,730 of income, and you can earn up to four credits per year. To qualify for retirement benefits, you need at least 40 work credits (or 10 years of work). But if you die, your family may be able to receive your benefits in the form of survivor benefits.
The number of credits needed to provide benefits for surviving family members depends on a worker’s age when they die. The younger a person is when they die, the fewer credits they need for their family members to receive benefits.
Survivor benefits come in two forms: a one-time, lump-sum payment of $255 and a monthly payment. What you’re eligible to receive depends on several factors.
How do you qualify for survivors benefits?
Spouses and ex-spouses
If your spouse passes, you’re eligible to receive a benefit based on their qualification for Social Security benefits. How much, though, depends on:
- Your age. If you’re between age 60 (or age 50 if you have a disability) and the full retirement age, you can receive a portion of your spouse’s Social Security benefit. If you’ve reached full retirement age, you’re able to get your spouse’s full Social Security benefit.
- Whether you’re caring for dependent children. If you’re caring for the deceased’s child aged 16 and under (or a child with a disability), you may be eligible to receive a portion of your spouse’s benefit—regardless of your age.
If you’ve been married in the past and are now divorced, you may also be eligible to receive your former spouse’s benefit if:
- Your marriage lasted at least 10 years and you’re age 60 or older (or age 50 – 59 with a disability); or
- You’re caring for your ex-spouse’s child (who is also your child).
Dependent children
Unmarried children under 18 and dependent adult children with a disability that began before age 22 are also eligible to receive Social Security benefits from a parent who has passed. In some circumstances, this can also apply to stepchildren, grandchildren or step-grandchildren.
Parents
Natural parents of a deceased worker (or stepparents and adoptive parents that became legal parents before the deceased reached age 16) may also be eligible to receive benefits if they were dependent upon the deceased for support. One or both parents may be eligible if all of the following apply:
- The parent is age 62 or older.
- The parent can provide documentation that at least half of his or her support came from the person who died at the time of their death.
- The parent cannot receive a Social Security benefit in an amount equal to or more than the survivor benefit.
- The parent does not marry after the time of their child’s death.
How much are Social Security survivor benefits?
Ultimately, how much you’ll receive in survivor benefits will be dependent upon the deceased’s lifetime earnings. From there, the Social Security Administration uses details about your situation to determine the percentage of the benefit you can receive. The maximum possible benefit a family may be eligible to receive is about 150 to 180 percent of the deceased’s benefit, but more often benefits end up being close to the full benefit amount or slightly less.
According to the Social Security Administration, the most typical benefits people receive are:
- Widow(er) at full retirement age: 100 percent of the deceased’s benefit amount
- Widow(er) age 60 or older but under the full retirement age: 71.5 to 99 percent of the deceased’s benefit amount
- Widow(er) (any age) with a child younger than 16: 75 percent of the deceased’s benefit amount
- A dependent child of the deceased: 75 percent of the deceased’s benefit amount
- Parent of a deceased worker: 1 parent—82.5 percent, 2 parents—75 percent each
What Documents do you need to have to apply for survivors benefits?
If you were already receiving spousal benefits before the death, you will not need to submit an application. Instead, the SSA will automatically convert your package to your spouse’s. If that’s not the case, complete Form SSA-10, and gather these documents:
- Proof of death
- Birth certificate or other proof of birth
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you were not born in the United States
- U.S. military discharge papers if you had military service before 1968
- For disability benefits, the two forms (SSA-3368 and SSA-827) that describe your medical condition and authorize disclosure of information to the SSA
- W-2 forms and/or self-employment tax returns for the preceding year
- Final divorce decree, if applying as a surviving divorced spouse
- Marriage certificate
- Your checkbook to arrange direct deposit
How Do Survivors Apply for Social Security Benefits?
Social Security death benefits are available to surviving spouses and dependents of workers who paid into the Social Security fund and worked long enough to earn benefits.4 Because individual circumstances vary widely, survivors can apply over the phone or by appointment at a local Social Security office.4 Applying for survivor benefits may require certain documents, such as a death certificate, marriage certificate, proof of citizenship, or a divorce decree.
