Guidance Along the Way
Social Security Benefits
Important Information
Social Security Benefits
You may be eligible for Social Security benefits if you are the spouse, child, or parent of someone who worked for a sufficient period under the Social Security Administration.
As a survivor of someone who was receiving Social Security benefits, you or another family member might qualify for monthly survivors' benefits. Specifically, if you are the spouse, child, or parent of a deceased individual who worked long enough under the Social Security Administration, you may be eligible for certain benefits.
What are Social Security Death Benefits?
Social Security survivor benefits may be available to the surviving spouses, children, and other eligible dependents of a deceased worker. These benefits are intended to help ease the financial burden of losing a loved one’s income and can be particularly important for young families with children.
Monthly benefit amounts are based on the earnings of the person who died. Generally, the more they paid into Social Security, the higher the potential benefit. The amount received is calculated as a percentage of the deceased person’s basic Social Security benefit.
Additionally, a one-time lump-sum death payment of $255 may be available to a surviving spouse who was living with the deceased at the time of death or, if living apart, was receiving certain Social Security benefits based on the deceased’s record. If there is no eligible surviving spouse, the payment may be made to an eligible child.
Who Qualifies for Benefits?
- A widow or widower age 60 or older.
- A surviving divorced spouse who meets certain eligibility requirements.
- A widow or widower of any age who is caring for the deceased’s child who is under age 16 or has a disability and receives child’s benefits.
- An unmarried child of the deceased who meets one of the following criteria:
- Is under age 18 (or up to age 19 if attending elementary or secondary school full-time).
- Is age 18 or older and has a disability that began before age 22.
What steps should survivors take?
In most cases, the funeral home will report the death to the Social Security Administration. If this has not been done, a surviving family member should notify the Social Security Administration as soon as possible after the date of death. Deaths cannot be reported online, and survivor benefits cannot 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.