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.
