(NewsNation) — It can be emotionally and financially devastating to lose a loved one, but certain surviving family members may be able to get some financial relief thanks to Social Security.
The government provides monthly payments to eligible family members of those who worked and paid Social Security taxes before they died. They’re known as survivor benefits.
About 5.7 million Americans received Social Security survivor benefits in January, including widows and widowers, as well as children of workers who died.
The size of that benefit is based on a few factors, including the deceased family member’s lifetime earnings, one’s relation to them and age.
Last month, the average monthly survivor benefit was roughly $1,550, according to the Social Security Administration.
Here’s what to know about survivor benefits and whether or not you qualify.
Who can get Social Security survivor benefits?
You may be eligible for survivor benefits if you’re the spouse, ex-spouse or child of someone who worked and paid Social Security taxes before they died. Dependent parents and adult children with disabilities also qualify in certain cases.
According to the Social Security Administration, you could qualify if you’re a spouse or ex-spouse and you:
- Are age 60 or older, or age 50–59 if you have a disability, and
- Were married for at least nine months before your spouse’s death, and
- Didn’t remarry before age 60 (age 50 if you have a disability).
Spouses and exes could also qualify regardless of age and how long they were married, if, for example, they’re caring for a child of the person who died.
Ex-spouses who were married for at least 10 years may be eligible, as well.
Children of someone who died may be eligible if they’re unmarried and are:
- Age 17 and younger, or
- Ages 18–19 and in school (K–12) full time, or
- Any age if they developed a disability at age 21 or younger.
In some cases, Social Security also pays benefits to married children, stepchildren, adopted children, grandchildren and stepgrandchildren.
Adult children who have a disability that started before their 22nd birthday may be eligible if their parent has died.
Under some circumstances, dependent parents also qualify — for instance, those who are age 62 or older and were financially supported by their child who died.
How are survivor benefits calculated?
The amount surviving family members can get depends on the average lifetime earnings of the person who died. The more they paid into Social Security, the bigger the benefit check.
That check is calculated as a percentage of the deceased worker’s benefit and is based on the survivor’s age and their relationship to the person who died.
For example:
- A surviving spouse at full retirement age (67 for those born after 1960) generally gets 100% of the worker’s basic benefit amount. However, a surviving spouse, age 60 or older, but under full retirement age, gets between 71% and 99%.
- A surviving spouse, any age, with a child younger than age 16 gets 75% of the worker’s benefit amount.
- Children generally get 75% of the parent’s benefit.
There is a limit to how much a family can receive, known as the “family maximum.” The cap varies but usually ranges between 150% and 180% of the deceased worker’s benefit amount.
Survivors could also have an earnings limit depending on their age. That means if you make over a certain amount, your benefit payment would be temporarily reduced. The Social Security Administration has a tool to check one’s earnings limit.
Do I get double benefits if I already receive a Social Security retirement check?
No, you can’t collect two benefits at the same time if your spouse dies and you’re already receiving your own retirement check.
Instead, you will get whichever amount is higher.
With that said, you can be strategic about when you start collecting survivor benefits.
For example, if you and your deceased spouse have retirement payouts that are roughly the same, you might consider taking the survivor benefit as early as age 60. The payment will be slightly smaller because you’re collecting it before the full retirement age but that allows you to grow your own retirement benefit in the meantime.
Then at age 70, you can switch over to your retirement benefit when it’s maxed out. Those who wait to claim until they turn 70 can earn up to 124% of their full benefit.
In dollar terms, waiting until 70 could mean an extra $27,000 a year compared to someone who claims at the earliest retirement age in 2025.
What happens to survivor benefits if I get remarried?
Generally, you can’t get surviving spouse’s benefits if you remarry before age 60.
However, getting remarried after age 60 won’t prevent you from collecting benefits based on your former spouse’s work, according to the Social Security Administration.
At age 62 or older, you can get benefits on your new spouse’s work, if those benefits would be higher.
How do I apply for survivor benefits?
You can apply for survivor benefits by calling 800-772-1213 or at any Social Security office.
This is the information you’ll need, according to the Social Security Administration:
- Proof of death, either from a funeral home or a death
certificate. - Your social security number, and the deceased worker’s social security number.
- Your birth certificate.
- Your marriage certificate if you’re a surviving spouse.
- Your divorce papers if you’re applying as a surviving
divorced spouse. - Dependent children’s social security numbers, if available, and birth
certificates. - Deceased worker’s W-2 forms or federal
self-employment tax return for the most recent year. - The name of your bank and your account number
so your benefits can be deposited directly into your
account.
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