Are You Getting Everything You Can From Your Social Security Survivor Benefits?

There's nothing easy about losing someone you care about, regardless of their relationship to you. Not only do you count on the important people in your life for emotional support, but you may also depend on them for financial support.

If you've lost someone and you're eligible for Social Security survivor benefits based on their work record, it's important to ensure you're receiving the support you deserve.

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The following questions are designed to help you determine if you're getting everything you're eligible for from your Social Security survivor benefits.

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Who's eligible?

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the following may be eligible for benefits after the loss of a loved one:

Spouses and ex-spouses

It's possible you're eligible if:

• You're 60 or older or 50 to 59 with a disability, and
• You were married for at least nine months before your spouse passed away, and
• You didn't remarry before age 60 (age 50 if you're living with a disability)
• You're a surviving spouse (of any age) who's caring for the child of the deceased, that child has a disability and is receiving Social Security benefits
• You're an ex-spouse who was married to the deceased for at least 10 years

Exception: The SSA reports that a person may be eligible for Social Security survivor benefits regardless of age or how long they were married. The example given is of a person who is caring for the child of the deceased.

Children

The child of someone who's died could be eligible if they're unmarried and are:

• Age 17 and younger, or
• Ages 18 to 19 and in school (K-12) full-time, or
• Any age if they developed a disability at age 21 or younger

Exception: Under specific circumstances, the SSA also pays benefits to married children, stepchildren, adopted children, grandchildren, and step-grandchildren.

Adult children with a disability

• An adult child with a disability that began before their 22nd birthday may be eligible for benefits.

Dependent parents

• Parents aged 62 or older who were financially supported by their child who died might be eligible.

As you can see, rules regarding who's eligible for benefits aren't written in stone, and the SSA looks at applications on a case-by-case basis. If you or someone you care about may be eligible for survivor benefits, it's important to apply.

How long can a caretaker continue to receive benefits?

If you're caring for the child or children of a deceased spouse, you're eligible to receive benefits to care for them until they reach age 16. At 16, the children will receive benefits based on their deceased parent's work record until they are 18 or 19, as long as they remain unmarried. If a child is a full-time student in high school when they turn 18, they will continue to receive benefits until they graduate or until two months after turning 19. If a child is disabled, they will continue to receive benefits after 18.

What if the deceased hadn't filed for Social Security?

You're eligible to collect survivor benefits even if your spouse hadn't claimed Social Security at the time of their death. If that's the case, your benefits will typically be based on the amount they would have received at full retirement age.

What if the deceased postponed retirement?

Unlike the spouses of still-living Social Security recipients, if your spouse postponed retirement to collect a larger benefit, your benefit as the surviving spouse will also be based on the higher amount.

Can someone file for their ex-spouse's survivor benefits if they've remarried?

If an ex-spouse dies but you remarry before age 60 (or 50 if you're disabled), you can't receive survivor benefits based on their work record unless the most recent marriage ends. However, if you remarry at age 60 or later, you can continue to receive benefits based on your former spouse's record.

If you did remarry at 60 or later, check your current spouse's estimated benefits to learn if they're higher or lower than the benefits you're eligible to receive based on your deceased ex's record. You cannot receive both, so apply for the higher of the two amounts.

How do I know how much I'll receive?

If you're a surviving spouse, you may receive full benefits at your full retirement age. However, you can receive a reduced benefit amount as early as age 60. If you receive survivor benefits before your full retirement age, the benefit amount will be permanently reduced.

Exception: If you have a disability, benefits can start as early as age 50.

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