Social Security After Parent's Death: A Guide for Survivors

The death of a parent can be a devastating experience, both emotionally and financially. If you relied on your parent for financial support, you may be wondering how you will make ends meet. One potential source of income is Social Security survivors benefits. In this article, we will explain what survivors benefits are, who is eligible to receive them, and how to apply for them.

Social Security survivors benefits are monthly payments made to the surviving spouse, children, or parents of a deceased worker. The amount of the benefit is based on the worker's earnings record and the age of the survivor.

To be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits, you must meet certain requirements. For example, you must be:

Social Security After Death of Parent

Here are six important points to remember about Social Security survivors benefits:

• Eligibility requirements: You must meet certain requirements to be eligible.
• Benefit amount: The amount of the benefit is based on the worker's earnings record and the age of the survivor.
• Types of survivors benefits: There are three main types of survivors benefits: widow(er)'s/widower's benefits, child's benefits, and parent's benefits.
• Application process: You can apply for survivors benefits online, by phone, or in person at a Social Security office.
• Time limits: There are time limits for filing for survivors benefits. You must file within two years of the worker's death.
• Appeals process: If your claim for survivors benefits is denied, you can appeal the decision.

If you have lost a parent, you may be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits. Contact the Social Security Administration to learn more about your options.

Eligibility requirements: You must meet certain requirements to be eligible.

To be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits, you must meet certain requirements. These requirements vary depending on the type of benefit you are applying for. However, there are some general requirements that apply to all survivors benefits:

• You must be the surviving spouse, child, or parent of a deceased worker who was insured under Social Security.
• You must meet the age requirements for the type of benefit you are applying for.
• You must not be receiving a higher Social Security benefit on your own record.

In addition to these general requirements, there are specific requirements for each type of survivors benefit. For example, to be eligible for widow(er)'s/widower's benefits, you must be at least 60 years old (or 50 years old if you are disabled) and you must have been married to the deceased worker for at least nine months.

To be eligible for child's benefits, you must be the unmarried child of a deceased worker and you must be under the age of 18 (or 19 if you are a full-time student). You may also be eligible for child's benefits if you are disabled, regardless of your age.

To be eligible for parent's benefits, you must be the parent of a deceased worker and you must be at least 62 years old (or 50 years old if you are disabled). You may also be eligible for parent's benefits if you were caring for the deceased worker's child who is under the age of 16 or disabled.

If you are unsure whether you meet the eligibility requirements for Social Security survivors benefits, you can contact the Social Security Administration for more information.

Benefit amount: The amount of the benefit is based on the worker's earnings record and the age of the survivor.

The amount of Social Security survivors benefits you receive depends on two main factors: the worker's earnings record and your age. The worker's earnings record is calculated based on their average earnings over a certain number of years. The higher the worker's earnings, the higher the survivors benefits will be.

Your age also affects the amount of survivors benefits you receive. In general, the younger you are when you start receiving benefits, the lower your benefit amount will be. This is because you are expected to have more time to work and earn your own Social Security benefits.

The following table shows the average monthly Social Security survivors benefits for different types of survivors in 2023:

It is important to note that these are just average benefit amounts. The actual amount you receive may be higher or lower depending on your individual circumstances.

If you are eligible for Social Security survivors benefits, you can use the Social Security Administration's online benefits calculator to estimate the amount of your benefit.

Types of survivors benefits: There are three main types of survivors benefits: widow(er)'s/widower's benefits, child's benefits, and parent's benefits.

The three main types of Social Security survivors benefits are:

• Widow(er)'s/widower's benefits: These benefits are paid to the surviving spouse of a deceased worker. To be eligible, you must be at least 60 years old (or 50 years old if you are disabled) and you must have been married to the deceased worker for at least nine months. The amount of your benefit will depend on the worker's earnings record and your age.
• Child's benefits: These benefits are paid to the unmarried children of a deceased worker. To be eligible, you must be under the age of 18 (or 19 if you are a full-time student). You may also be eligible for child's benefits if you are disabled, regardless of your age. The amount of your benefit will depend on the worker's earnings record and your age.
• Parent's benefits: These benefits are paid to the parents of a deceased worker. To be eligible, you must be at least 62 years old (or 50 years old if you are disabled) and you must have been dependent on the deceased worker for at least half of your support. The amount of your benefit will depend on the worker's earnings record and your age.

If you are eligible for more than one type of survivors benefits, you will only receive the highest benefit amount. For example, if you are eligible for both widow(er)'s benefits and child's benefits, you will only receive the widow(er)'s benefit because it is the higher amount.

Application process: You can apply for survivors benefits online, by phone, or in person at a Social Security office.

To apply for Social Security survivors benefits, you can:

• Apply online: You can apply for survivors benefits online through the Social Security Administration's website. This is the fastest and easiest way to apply.
• Apply by phone: You can apply for survivors benefits by calling the Social Security Administration's toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM ET.
• Apply in person: You can apply for survivors benefits in person at your local Social Security office. To find the nearest office, visit the Social Security Administration's website or call the toll-free number listed above.

Regardless of how you choose to apply, you will need to provide the following information:

• Your Social Security number
• The Social Security number of the deceased worker
• The deceased worker's date of birth and date of death
• Your relationship to the deceased worker
• Your date of birth
• Your bank account information (for direct deposit of your benefits)

You may also need to provide additional documentation, such as your marriage certificate, birth certificate, or death certificate. The Social Security Administration will let you know what documentation you need to provide.

Once you have submitted your application, the Social Security Administration will review it and make a decision on your claim. You can check the status of your claim online or by calling the toll-free number listed above.