Social Security Death Benefit

If You Are the Survivor

Just as you plan for your family’s protection if you die, you should consider the Social Security benefits that may be available if you are the survivor—that is, the spouse, child, or parent of a worker who dies. That person must have worked long enough under Social Security to qualify for benefits.

How Your Spouse Earns Social Security Survivors Benefits

A worker can earn up to four credits each year. In 2018, for example, your spouse can earn one credit for each $1,320 of wages or self-employment income. When your spouse has earned $5,280, they have earned their four credits for the year.

The number of credits needed to provide benefits for survivors depends on the worker’s age when they die. The younger a person is, the fewer credits they must have for family members to receive survivors benefits. But no one needs more than 40 credits (10 years of work) to be eligible for any Social Security benefit.

However, benefits can be paid to the worker’s children and the surviving spouse who is caring for the children even if the worker doesn’t have the required number of credits. They can get benefits if the worker has credit for one and one-half years of work (6 credits) in the three years just before their death.

Your full retirement age for retirement benefits may not match your full retirement age for survivors benefits.

Each person’s situation is different, and you need to talk to a Social Security claims representative about your choices.

When A Family Member Dies

You cannot report a death or apply for survivors benefits online. We should be notified as soon as possible when a person dies.

In most cases, the funeral home will report the person’s death to us. You should give the funeral home the deceased person’s Social Security number if you want them to make the report.

If you need to report a death or apply for benefits, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You can speak to a Social Security representative between 7 AM and 7 PM Monday through Friday. You can also contact 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 speak to someone.

Does Social Security pay death benefits?

A one-time payment of $255 can be paid to the surviving spouse if he or she was living with the deceased; or, if living apart, was receiving certain Social Security benefits on the deceased’s record.

If there is no surviving spouse, the payment is made to a child who is eligible for benefits on the deceased’s record in the month of death.

What happens if they received monthly benefits?

If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, you must return the benefit received for the month of death and any later months.

For example, if the person died in July, you must return the benefits paid in August. If benefits were paid by:

• direct deposit, contact the bank or other financial institution. Request that any funds received for the month of death or later be returned to Social Security.
• check, do not cash any checks received for the month in which the person dies or later. Return the checks to Social Security as soon as possible.

Eligible family members may be able to receive survivors benefits for the month when the beneficiary died.

Who receives benefits?

Certain family members may be eligible to receive monthly benefits, including:

• A widow or widower age 60 or older (age 50 or older if disabled);
• A surviving divorced spouse, under certain circumstances;
• A widow or widower at any age who is caring for the deceased’s child who is under age 16 or disabled;
• An unmarried child of the deceased who is:
• Younger than age 18 (or up to age 19 if he or she is a full-time student in an elementary or secondary school); or
• Age 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22.

Are other family members eligible?

Under certain circumstances the following family members may be eligible:

• A stepchild, grandchild, step grandchild, or adopted child and
• Parents, age 62 or older, who were dependent on the deceased for at least half of their support.

Widow or Widower

If you are the widow or widower of a person who worked long enough under Social Security, you can:

• receive full benefits at full retirement age for survivors or reduced benefits as early as age 60.
• begin receiving benefits as early as age 50 if you are disabled and the disability started before or within seven years of the worker’s death.

If a widow or widower who is caring for the worker’s children receives Social Security benefits, they’re still eligible if their disability starts before those payments end or within seven years after they end.

A widow, widower, or surviving divorced spouse cannot apply online for survivors benefits. If you wish to apply for disability benefits as a survivor, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to request an appointment. (If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.)

You can speed up the disability application process if you complete an Adult Disability Report and have it available at the time of your appointment.

We use the same definition of disability for widows and widowers as we do for workers.

• receive survivors benefits at any age if you take care of the deceased worker’s child who is under age 16 or is disabled and receives benefits on the worker’s record.

If you remarry after you reach age 60 (age 50 if disabled), your remarriage will not affect your eligibility for survivors benefits.

You should apply if:

• already receive benefits as a spouse, your benefit will automatically convert to survivors benefits after we receive the report of death.
• are also eligible for retirement benefits (but haven’t applied yet), you have an additional option. You can apply for retirement or survivors benefits now and switch to the other (higher) benefit at a later date.
• already receive retirement benefits, you can only apply for benefits as a widow or widower if the retirement benefit you receive is less than the benefits you would receive as a survivor.

If you became entitled to retirement benefits less than 12 months ago, you may be able to withdraw your retirement application and apply for survivors benefits only. If you do that, you can reapply for the retirement benefits at a later date when they will be higher.