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Social Security Survivors' Benefits
Most of us don't like to talk about death or even think about it. But wouldn't you feel better knowing that, if you were no longer living, Social Security would help take care of your family? Of course, you would.
If you're working and paying into Social Security, some of the Social Security taxes you pay goes toward survivors insurance. In fact, the value of the survivors insurance you have under Social Security is probably more than the value of your current life insurance. And you thought Social Security was just for retirement!
If you're married and both you and your spouse are wage earners, you should consider survivors benefits from two perspectives. For one, when you die, members of your family could be eligible for benefits based on your earnings. Click here to learn how benefits are earned, and who qualifies for the benefits.
The other perspective you should consider is the benefits you and your family would be eligible to receive if your spouse or parent died.
If you are already getting social security benefits
If you're getting benefits on your spouse's or parent's record when he or she dies, you should report the death to the SSA. They will change your monthly payments to survivor's benefits. To report the death, call or visit your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213.
The SSA will automatically change any benefits for children to survivor's benefits after the death is reported.
If you are receiving retirement or disability benefits on your own record, you will need to apply for the survivor's benefits. Call or visit your local Social Security office and an aide will check to see whether you can get a higher benefit as a widow or widower.
Survivors' benefits for your widow or widower
You probably know people who are receiving Social Security survivor benefits because they are a widow or widower. At present, there are about five million widows and widowers receiving monthly Social Security benefits based on their deceased spouse's earnings record. And, for many of those survivors, particularly aged women, those benefits are keeping them out of poverty.
- Your widow or widower who has not remarried can receive full benefits at full retirement age or older, or reduced benefits as early as age 60.
- Disabled widows or widowers can begin receiving benefits as early as age 50. Click here for information about disability qualifications.
- Your widow or widower can receive survivors' benefits at any age if she or he takes care of your child who is under age 16 or is disabled and receives benefits on your record.
Benefits For Disabled Widows Or Widowers
If something happens to you, benefits may be payable to your widow or widower with a disability if the following conditions are met:
- He or she is between ages 50 and 60.
- The widow or widower meets the definition of disability for adults.
- The disability started before your death or within seven years after your death.
NOTE: If your widow or widower caring for your children receives Social Security benefits, he or she is eligible if disability starts before those payments end or within seven years after they end.
Social Security uses the same definition of disability for these widows and widowers as they do for workers.
Social Security's definition of 'disability'
The definition of disability under Social Security is different than other programs. Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or for short-term disability.
Disability under Social Security is based on your inability to work. The SSA considers you disabled under Social Security rules if you cannot do work that you did before and we decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s). Your disability must also last or be expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.
This is a strict definition of disability. Social Security program rules assume that working families have access to other resources to provide support during periods of short-term disabilities, including workers' compensation, insurance, savings and investments.
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