How Social Security Survivor Benefits Work

How Social Security Survivor Benefits Work

How Social Security Survivor Benefits Work

How do survivor benefits work

Listen to this article 0.00 0.00 More than 5.8 million people received Social Security survivor benefits in September 2022. These monthly payments typically go to the spouse, former spouse or children of someone who was receiving or eligible for Social Security benefits. In some circumstances, parents, grandchildren or stepchildren of a late worker may also qualify for survivor benefits.
In most cases, survivor benefits are based on the amount the deceased was receiving from Social Security at the time of death (or was entitled to receive if he or she died before filing for benefits). You can apply by phone at 800-772-1213 or in person at your .

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You need not claim survivor benefits as soon as your spouse dies or at your earliest eligibility age. There is no time limit to file, and they actually grow if you delay claiming them until you reach your . For survivor benefits, full retirement age is currently 66 but will rise incrementally to 67 over the next several years. However, depending on your financial situation it might make sense to file as soon as possible after the to Social Security. Survivor benefits are dated from the time you apply and are not retroactive to the time of death. Also potentially eligible for survivor benefits are: . Nearly 2 million offspring of deceased workers were receiving survivor benefits as of September 2022. Qualifying children can collect 75 percent of a late parent’s benefit. To be eligible for survivor benefits the child must be under 18 (or up to 19 and 2 months if they are still in high school full time) or have a disability dating from before they turned 22. Stepchildren and may also qualify. In all cases, children must be unmarried to collect survivor benefits. . Survivor benefits can go to parents age 62 or older who were financially dependent on a son or daughter who dies. The amount is 82.5 percent of the deceased’s benefit for one parent, 75 percent each for two. . The divorced spouses of deceased workers can collect survivor benefits if the marriage lasted 10 years or more. The rules regarding eligibility age are largely the same as for widows and widowers. One note on how much of a late worker's benefit amount survivors can receive: Survivor benefits paid to multiple members of one family are subject to the . That's a cap on how much Social Security will pay out on a single deceased worker’s earnings record. If family members’ collective survivor benefits exceed the maximum, their individual payments will be reduced proportionally to meet the cap.

Keep in mind

If you are on your work record, you will receive survivor benefits only if they exceed your own payment. Social Security will pay the higher of the two benefit amounts. Widowed spouses and former spouses who before age 60 (50 if they are disabled) cannot collect survivor benefits. Eligibility resumes if the later marriage ends. There is no effect on eligibility if you remarry at 60 or older (50 or older if disabled). Other than the remarriage issue and the age parameters for children, there is no — they are payable for life. Survivor benefits are distinct from Social Security's lump-sum , a one-time payment of $255 to a deceased beneficiary's family. To receive this payment, you must (by calling Social Security at 800-772-1213 or visiting your ) within two years of the person's death.

How Do Social Security Survivor Benefits Work

Updated October 13, 2022

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