Social Security Benefits

Who Qualifies For Benefits?

To receive monthly benefits, the deceased worker must have credit for work covered by Social Security ranging from 1 1/2 to 10 years depending on his or her age at death. Those eligible for monthly benefits include:

• A widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled) or at any age if caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled
• A divorced widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled) if the marriage lasted 10 years or if caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled
• Unmarried children up to 18 (19 if they are attending a primary or secondary school full-time)
• Children who were disabled before reaching 22 as long as they remained disabled
• Dependent parent or parents 62 or older

Lump Sum Death Payment

A one-time payment of $255 is paid in addition to the monthly cash benefits described above. The lump-sum death payment (LSDP) is paid in the following priority order:

• A surviving spouse who lived in the same household as the deceased person at the time of death
• A surviving spouse eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death
• A child or children eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death

Applying For Benefits

If you need to report a death or apply for benefits, or have questions about qualifying to receive survivor’s benefits, call 1-800-772-1213.

Additional information is available online at ssa.gov/benefits/survivors.