If Your Spouse/Parent Passes Away

It's important to know Social Security benefits may be available for you. This includes the spouse, children, or parents of the person who passed away. To get these benefits, your parent must have worked for a certain amount of time.

Earning Benefits for the Family

Every year, a person can earn up to 4 credits for their family's future benefits. In 2023, they can get 1 credit for every $1,640 they earn from work. When they earn $6,560, they have all 4 credits for that year.

The number of credits needed depends on how old the person was when they died. The younger they were, the fewer credits they needed. Sometimes, families can get benefits even if the person only had 6 credits in the last 3 years before they passed away.

When Your Parent Dies

You should let the Social Security office know as soon as you can when your parent dies. Usually, the funeral home will do this for you if you give them your parent's Social Security number.

To report a death or apply for benefits, call 1-800-772-1213. They're open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. You can also visit your local Social Security office.

Death Benefits

A one-time payment of $255 could be given to the surviving spouse if they lived with the person who passed away. If they lived apart and received certain Social Security benefits, they might also be eligible.

If there's no surviving spouse, the payment goes to a child who is eligible for benefits.

Returning Monthly Benefits

If your parent was receiving Social Security benefits, you must return the money they got for the month they died and any months after that.

For example, if your parent died in July, return the money they got in August. Talk to the bank or return the check, depending on how your parent received the money.

Who Gets Benefits?

Some family members might be able to get monthly benefits. This includes:

●  A surviving spouse who is 60 or older (or 50 or older if they have a disability).

●  A surviving divorced spouse in some cases.

●  A surviving spouse of any age who takes care of the deceased's child who is under 16 or has a disability and gets a child's benefits.

An unmarried child of the deceased who is:

●  Under 18 (or up to 19 if they're a full-time student).

●  18 years or older than that, but with a disability that started before they turned 22.

Family Members Who Can Get Help

When someone in your family passes away, other family members might be able to get help from Social Security. This can include:

●  Stepchildren, grandchildren, step-grandchildren, or adopted children.

●  Parents who are 62 or older and depend on the person who passed away for money.

These family members might be able to get help for the month the person died.

Help for the Spouse

If your parent passed away and they worked long enough, their spouse can:

●  Get some help starting at age 60.

●  Get their own retirement help starting at age 62.

●  Get help starting at age 50 if they have a disability that started before or within 7 years of your parent's death.

●  Get help at any age if they haven't remarried and take care of your parent's child who is under 16 or has a disability.

If the spouse remarries after turning 60 (or 50 if they have a disability), the new marriage won't change the help they can get.

To apply for help as a spouse, call 1-800-772-1213 to make an appointment. If you have trouble hearing, call 1-800-325-0778.

Help for Divorced Spouses

If your parent passed away and they were divorced, their ex-spouse might be able to get help if they were married for 10 years or more. This won't change the help other family members can get.

If the ex-spouse remarries after turning 60 (or 50 if they have a disability), the new marriage won't change the help they can get.

If the ex-spouse takes care of your parent's child who is under 16 or has a disability, they don't need to have been married for 10 years to get help.

Help for Children

If you are an unmarried child under 18 of a parent who passed away, you might be able to get help. You can also get help if you are under 19 and going to school full-time.

If you have a disability that started before you turned 22, you can get help at any age.

Stepchildren, grandchildren, step-grandchildren, or adopted children of the person who passed away might also be able to get help in some cases.

Help for Your Parents

If your parent depended on the person who passed away and is 62 or older, they might be able to get help from Social Security. They shouldn't have a higher retirement benefit and shouldn't get married after their child's death, but there are some exceptions.

Your parent could be a natural parent, stepparent, or adoptive parent of the person who passed away.

How Much Help You Get

The help your family gets depends on how much the person who died paid into Social Security. More money means more help. Here are some examples:

●  Spouse who is old enough for full retirement: 100% of the person's benefit.

●  Spouse who is 60 or older: 71½ to 99% of the person's benefit.

●  Spouse with a disability who is 50 to 59: 71½%.

●  Spouse of any age taking care of a child under 16: 75%.

●  Child under 18 (or 19 if still in school) or with a disability: 75%.

●  Parent who depended on the person, 62 or older: One parent gets 82½%, and two parents get 75% each.

There might also be a special one-time payment.

Family Limit

There's a limit to how much help your family can get each month. It's usually between 150% and 180% of the basic benefit. If your family gets more than that, the help will be reduced.

Other Things to Know

There are limits on how much money you can make while getting help. A few other things can affect the help for a spouse:

●  If you remarry before turning 60 (or 50 if you have a disability), you can't get help as a spouse while married.

●  If you remarry after turning 60 (or 50 if you have a disability), you can still get help based on your deceased spouse's record.

●  If your new spouse gets Social Security, you might get more help based on their record.

●  You can switch to your own retirement help at 62 if it's higher than your spouse's help.

●  Sometimes, you can start with one type of help and then switch to another.

\

Lump sum Payment

A spouse or child might get a lump sum payment of $255 if they meet certain rules. The payment usually goes to the spouse who lived with the person who died. If they lived apart, the spouse could still get the payment if they were getting benefits or became eligible when the person died.

If there's no spouse, the payment can go to the child if they were getting benefits or became eligible when the person died. If the spouse or child isn't getting help, they need to apply within 2 years of the person's death.