Social Security

If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, you need to contact the Social Security Office to report the death. If you think you may be eligible for survivor’s benefits, you should also contact them to apply.

How Social Security Helps Families
Social Security survivor’s benefits help ease the financial burden that follows a worker’s death. Almost all children under age 18 will get monthly benefits if a working parent dies. Other family members may be eligible for benefits, too.

Anyone who has worked and paid Social Security (FICA) taxes has been earning Social Security benefits for his or her family. The amount of work needed to pay survivor’s benefits depends on the worker’s age at the time of death. It may be as little as one and one half years for a young worker; no one needs more than 10 years.

Who can get survivor’s benefits?
This is a list of family members who usually can get benefits:

Widows and Widowers age 60 or older
Widows and widowers at any age if caring for the deceased’s child(ren) who are under age 16 or disabled
Divorced wives and husbands age 60 or older, if married to the deceased 10 years or more
Widows, widowers, divorced wives, and divorced husbands age 50 or older, if they are disabled
Children up to age 18
Children age 18-19, if they attend elementary school or high school full time
Children over age 18, if they become disabled before age 22
The deceased worker’s parents age 62 or older, if they were being supported by the worker.

In addition to the monthly benefits for family members, a one-time payment of $255 can be paid to a spouse who was living with the worker at the time of death. If there is none, it can be paid to a spouse who is eligible for benefits, or a child or children eligible for benefits. This payment cannot be made if there is no eligible spouse or child.

How To Apply For Benefits
You can apply for benefits by telephone, or by going to any Social Security office. You may need some of the documents shown on the list below, but don’t delay your application because you don’t have all the information. If you don’t have a document you need, Social Security can help you get it.

The information you need includes:

Your Social Security number and the deceased worker’s Social Security number •
A death certificate (generally, the funeral director provides a statement that can be used for this purpose)
Proof of the deceased worker’s earnings for last year (W-2 forms or self-employment tax return)
Your birth certificate
A marriage certificate, if you are applying for benefits as a widow, widower, divorced wife, or divorced husband.
A divorce decree, if you are applying for benefits as a divorced wife or husband
Children’s birth certificates and Social Security numbers, if applying for children’s benefits
Your checking or savings account information, if you want direct deposit of your benefits.

You will need to submit original documents or copies certified by the issuing office. You can mail or bring them to the office. Social Security will make photocopies and return your documents.

Supplemental Security Information
If you are 65 or older, disabled, or blind, ask the Social Security representative about Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks for people with limited income and resources. If you receive SSI, you may also qualify for Medicaid, food stamps, and other social services.

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, too.

For more information, write or visit any social security office, visit the Social Security Website or phone toll-free 1-800-772-1213. You can speak to a representative weekdays 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.