Helpful Resources

Social Security Benefits

Certain family members of the deceased may be eligible for Social Security benefits if the deceased individual had worked long enough under Social Security to qualify for such benefits. It is crucial to contact Social Security promptly to ensure the family receives all entitled benefits. The following information outlines the available benefits.

A one-time payment of $255 may be issued to the surviving spouse if they were living with the deceased or, if living separately, were receiving specific Social Security benefits based on the deceased's record. If there is no surviving spouse, the payment is made to a child eligible for benefits on the deceased's record in the month of death.

Certain family members might be eligible to receive monthly benefits, including:

• A widow or widower aged 60 or older (aged 50 or older if disabled);
• A surviving spouse at any age caring for the deceased's child under age 16 or disabled;
• An unmarried child of the deceased aged younger than 18 (or aged 18 or 19 if enrolled as a full-time student in an elementary or secondary school); or aged 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22;
• Parents, aged 62 or older, who relied on the deceased for at least half of their support; and
• A surviving divorced spouse, under specific circumstances.

The Social Security website offers valuable information about all of Social Security's programs, and numerous tasks can be completed online.

Additionally, you can call Social Security toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. Staff members can answer specific questions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Information is also available through an 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.