Who is eligible to receive Social Security survivors benefits and how do I apply? (2024)

FAQs

Who is eligible to receive Social Security survivors benefits and how do I apply? ›

Who can get Survivor benefits. You may qualify if you're the spouse, divorced spouse, child, or dependent parent of someone who worked and paid Social Security taxes before they died.

When you die, certain members of your family may be eligible for survivors benefits. These include surviving spouses (and divorced surviving spouses), children, and dependent parents. How do I earn survivors benefits? As you work and pay Social Security taxes, you earn credits toward your Social Security benefits.

A surviving spouse, surviving divorced spouse, unmarried child, or dependent parent may be eligible for monthly survivor benefits based on the deceased worker's earnings. In addition, a one-time lump sum death payment of $255 can be made to a qualifying spouse or child if they meet certain requirements.

Widows and widowers

These benefits are payable for life unless the spouse begins collecting a retirement benefit that is greater than the survivor benefit. Beneficiaries entitled to two types of Social Security payments receive the higher of the two amounts.

Didn't remarry before age 60 (age 50 if you have a disability).

You can apply for benefits by calling our national toll-free service at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visiting your local Social Security office. An appointment is not required, but if you call ahead and schedule one, it may reduce the time you spend waiting to apply.

“Survivor benefits” and “widow benefits” are both terms used for the same Social Security benefits paid to the surviving spouse and dependents after a person's death.

Who is a Qualifying Widow(er)? Taxpayers who do not remarry in the year their spouse dies can file jointly with the deceased spouse. For the two years following the year of death, the surviving spouse may be able to use the Qualifying Widow(er) filing status.

To qualify for this benefit program, you must meet all of the following requirements: Be at least age 60. Be the widow or widower of a fully insured worker. Meet the marriage duration requirement.

Does a widow get 100% of her husband's Social Security? ›

As a surviving spouse, you're entitled to 100% of the deceased's benefits once you reach full retirement age. The full retirement age can differ based on the type of benefit. See this chart for the survivor's full retirement age.

As with regular retirement benefits, the amount of survivor benefits a family gets is based on average lifetime earnings. The more an individual earns, the higher the benefit. Benefit amounts are based on how much the deceased would have collected at full retirement age if still living.

A widow's benefit is generally calculated on the benefit your late spouse was receiving from Social Security at the time of death. The AARP says that the actual amount of your payment will differ according to the following factors: If you have reached full retirement age, you may receive 100% of the benefit.

The widow's penalty occurs when a surviving spouse's tax status reverts from married filing jointly to single. If you're a widow or widower, you can file a joint tax return for the year of your spouse's death.

An adult whose parents received Social Security benefits cannot "inherit" those benefits directly when their parent dies. Only adult children with disabilities can receive Social Security benefits after their parents die.

Primary beneficiary/ies: the dependent spouse until he/she remarries, and. dependent legitimate, legitimated or legally adopted and illegitimate children who are below 21 years old, not gainfully employed, not married.

How to return a deceased person's Social Security payment. The SSA cannot pay benefits for the month of a recipient's death. That means if the person died in July, the check or direct deposit received in August (which is payment for July) must be returned. Find out how to return a check to the SSA.

Who should complete the application. If an estate exists, the executor named in the will or the administrator named by the Court to administer the estate applies for the death benefit. The executor should apply for the benefit within 60 days of the date of death.