Suminski Family Funeral Homes, Inc.

 How Social Security Can Help You When A Family Member Dies

SSA Publication No. 05-10008, September 2004
Social Security should be notified as soon as possible when a person dies. In most cases, the funeral director will report the person’s death to Social Security. You will need to furnish the funeral director with the deceased’s Social Security number so he or she can make the report.
Some of the deceased’s family members may be able to receive Social Security benefits if the deceased person worked long enough under Social Security to qualify for benefits. You should get in touch with Social Security as soon as you can to make sure the family receives all of the benefits to which it may be entitled. Please read the following information carefully to learn what benefits may be available.
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.
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 spouse at any age who is caring for the deceased’s child under age 16 or disabled; • An unmarried child of the deceased who is:
• Younger than age 18 (or age 18 or 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;
• Parents, age 62 or older, who were dependent on the deceased for at least half of their support; and
• A surviving divorced spouse, under certain circumstances.

If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, you must return the benefit received for the month of death or any later months. For example, if the person dies in July, you must return the benefit 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. If the benefits were paid by 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.
However, eligible family members may be able to receive death benefits for the month in which the beneficiary died.

 Qualify and Apply

Definition of survivors benefits:

When a person who has worked and paid Social Security taxes dies, certain members of the family may be eligible for survivors benefits. Up to ten years of work is needed to be eligible for benefits, depending on the person's age at the time of death.


Who is eligible for survivors benefits

Social Security survivors benefits can be paid to:
• A widow or widower -- full benefits at full retirement age, or reduced benefits as early as age 60

• A disabled widow or widower -- as early as age 50
• A widow or widower at any age if he or she takes care of the deceased's child who is under age 16 or disabled, and receiving Social Security benefits
• Unmarried children under 18, or up to age 19 if they are attending high school full time. Under certain circumstances, benefits can be paid to stepchildren, grandchildren, or adopted children.
• Children at any age who were disabled before age 22 and remain disabled.
• Dependent parents age 62 or older

Information You'll Need When You Apply for the Lump-Sum Death Benefit

Whether it’s by phone or in person, we want your visit to go as smoothly as possible. You can help by being ready to answer the following questions and having as many of the needed documents as possible.
We may also ask you to provide documents to show that you are eligible:
• Birth certificate or other proof of birth;
• Naturalization papers;
• U.S. military discharge paper(s);
• W-2 forms(s) and/or self-employment tax returns for last year.
We accept photocopies of W-2 forms, self-employment tax returns or medical documents, but we must see the original of most other documents, such as your birth certificate. (We will return them to you.)
Don’t delay filing your claim just because you don’t have all the documents. Social Security will help you get them.