Social Security Benefits

If you have lost a loved one who was receiving Social Security benefits, you or another family member may be eligible for monthly survivors benefits. These benefits are designed to provide financial support to the surviving spouse, children or parents of the deceased individual who had worked long enough under the Social Security Administration. The amount of survivors benefits that you may be eligible to receive depends on a number of factors, including the deceased individual's earnings history and the number of family members who are eligible for benefits.

To apply for survivors benefits, you will need to provide various documents and information to the Social Security Administration, including proof of death and proof of your relationship to the deceased individual.

What are Social Security Death Benefits?

Social Security Death Benefits are paid to widows, widowers, and dependents of a deceased eligible worker. This benefit, meant to assist with a family’s financial burden of losing the lost loved one’s income, is particularly important for young families with children.

Monthly benefit amounts are based on the earnings of the person who died. The more they paid into Social Security, the higher your benefits would be. This amount is a percentage of the deceased’s basic Social Security benefit.

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Additionally, a one-time lump-sum death payment of $255 can be paid to the surviving spouse if he or she is living with the deceased; or if living apart, was receiving certain Social Security benefits on the deceased’s record. When there is no surviving spouse, the payment is made to a child who is eligible for benefits.

Who Qualifies for Benefits?

A widow or widower age 60 or older
A surviving divorced spouse, under certain circumstances
A widow or widower at any age who is caring for the deceased’s child who is under age 16 or disabled and receiving child’s benefits
An unmarried child of the deceased who is one of the following:
Younger than age 18 (up to age 19 if he or she is a full-time student in an elementary or secondary school).
Age 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22.

What Steps Should Survivor’s Take?

In most cases, the funeral home will report the person’s death, however, if not, a surviving family member should notify the Social Security Administration as soon as possible following the date of death. Deaths cannot be reported online, and benefits can not be applied for online.

How Do I Contact the Social Security Administration?

If you need to report a death or apply for benefits, or have questions about qualifying to receive survivor’s benefits, call 1-800-772-1213.

Additional information is available online at ssa.gov/benefits/survivors.