Social Security Benefits

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. Contact Social Security as soon as possible to ensure the family receives all the benefits it may be eligible for. 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 who is 60 years or older, or 50 years or older if they are disabled, may qualify for monthly benefits.
• A surviving spouse, regardless of age, is responsible for caring for the deceased's child who is under 16 or disabled.
• The deceased's unmarried child under the age of 18 (or 18 or 19 if they are enrolled full-time in an elementary or secondary school) or any age 18 or older with a disability that started before the age of 22 is also eligible.
• Parents, age 62 or older, who were dependent on the deceased for at least half of their support; and
• Under certain circumstances, the surviving spouse of a divorced individual may also qualify.

The Social Security website is a valuable resource for information about all of Social Security's programs. There are several things you can do online.

In addition to using the Social Security website, you can call them toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. Staff can answer specific questions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. They can also provide information via automated phone service 24 hours a day. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call the TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.