Maximize Your Social Security Benefits

To help you file for Social Security death benefits, we’ve put together the following information.

Eligibility

To qualify for Social Security benefits, the deceased worker must be credited with work from 11/2 to 10 years depending on his or her age at death. Those who may receive monthly benefits are:

  • A widow/widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled) or any age if caring for an entitled child
    under age 16 or disabled

  • A divorced widow/widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled) as long as the marriage lasted 10 or more years or if caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled

  • Unmarried children up to age18 (age 19 if they are attending a primary or secondary school full-time)

  • Children who were disabled before reaching age 22, as long as they remained disabled

  • Dependent parent or parents age62 or older

Lump-Sum

Death Payment

In addition to the monthly cash benefits described above, a one-time lump-sum death benefit payment of $255 is paid in the following order:
1) To the surviving spouse who lived in the same household as the deceased at the time of death
2) To the surviving spouse eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of deat
3) To a child or children eligible for or entitled to benefits forthe month of death

Applying for

Social Security Benefits

To receive these benefits, you must apply for them by:
1) visiting any Social Security office; or
2) by calling 1-800-772-1213, where the operator will schedule an appointment for you or connect you with the local office to take your claim information by phone; or
3) by going online to www.ssa.gov

Apply for Social Security

Online at

www.ssa.gov

Learning more about

Social Security

If you have any other questions about Social Security death benefits, you can visit www.ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on regular business days. At other times and on weekends and holidays, you may leave a message and they will call you back.

Visit SSA.gov

Call Social Security Office

1-800-772-1213
7:00 am- 7:00 pm