HELPING YOU ALONG
Social Security
If you are the spouse, child or parent of someone who has worked long enough under the Social Security Administration you may qualify to receive certain benefits.
What are Social Security Death Benefits?
Social Security Death Benefits are paid to widows, widowers, and dependents of a deceased eligible worker. This benefit, meant to assist with a family’s financial burden of losing the lost loved one’s income, is particularly important for young families with children.
Monthly benefit amounts are based on the earnings of the person who died. The more they paid into Social Security, the higher your benefits would be. This amount is a percentage of the deceased’s basic Social Security benefit.
A one-time lump-sum death payment of $255 can be paid to the surviving spouse.
What Steps Should Survivor’s Take?
The funeral home reports a death to the Social Security Administration through the on-line filing of the death certificate.
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.
