A
Message from Social Security
Your
funeral director is helping the Social Security office by
giving you this information about Social Security benefits.
If the deceased was receiving benefits, you need to contact
us to report the death. If you think you may be eligible
for survivors benefits, you should contact us to apply.
How
Social Security helps families
Social
Security survivors 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 survivors benefits depends
on the worker's age at the time of death. It may be as little
as 1-1/2 years for a young worker. No one needs more than
10 years.
Who
can get survivors benefits?
Here
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
children 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 the attend elementary 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.
A
special one-time payment
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.
-
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.
Information
Needed
-
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 Income (SSI)
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.
For
More Information
Click Icon to Visit Site
For
more information, write or visit any Social Security office,
or phone the toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213. You can speak
to a representative weekdays 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
A
Reminder
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.
