Social Security Explained
- Social Security Retirement
- Social Security Survivors
- Social Security Disability
- Social Security Income(SSI)
- Medicare Comparison Tool
Contact
Medicare assistance
Call 877-335-7061,
Social security assistance
call 800-772-1213
Call 877-335-7061,
Social security assistance
call 800-772-1213
Social Security Survivors
When a person who has worked and paid Social Security taxes dies, certain members of the family may be eligible for survivors benefits.
Up to ten years of work is needed to be eligible for benefits, depending on the person's age at the time of death.
Who is eligible for survivors benefits
Social Security survivors benefits can be paid to:
* A widow or widower -- full benefits at full
retirement age, or reduced benefits as early as
age 60
* A disabled widow or widower -- as early as age
50
* A widow or widower at any age if he or she
takes care of the deceased's child who is under
age 16 or disabled, and receiving Social
Security benefits
* Unmarried children under 18, or up to age 19
if they are attending high school full time.
Under certain circumstances, benefits can be
paid to stepchildren, grandchildren, or
adopted children.
* Children at any age who were disabled before
age 22 and remain disabled.
* Dependent parents age 62 or older
Note: If you are divorced, you may still qualify for survivors benefits.
You can receive Social Security survivors benefits and work at the same time. However, depending on your age, your benefits could be reduced if you earn more than certain amounts.
Survivors Continued...
How divorce affects survivors benefits
If your divorced spouse dies, you can receive benefits as a widow/widower if the marriage lasted 10 years or longer and you are age 60 or older (or age 50 if you are disabled.)
Benefits paid to a surviving divorced spouse who is 60 or older (age 50 if disabled) will not affect the benefit rates for other survivors receiving benefits.
Note: You do not have to meet the length-of-marriage rule if you are caring for a child under age 16 or disabled who is getting benefits on the record of your former spouse. (The child must be your former spouse's natural or legally adopted child.) However, if you qualify because you have the worker's child in your care, your benefit will affect the benefit amounts of others on the worker's record.
How remarriage affects survivors benefits
In general, you cannot receive survivors benefits if you remarry before the age of 60 unless the latter marriage ends, whether by death, divorce, or annulment.
If you remarry after age 60 (50 if disabled), you can still collect benefits on your former spouse's record. When you reach age 62 or older, you may get retirement benefits on the record of your new spouse if they are higher.
Your remarriage would have no effect on the benefits being paid to your children. more