We believe that every life is unique and deserves to be celebrated in a special way. Our team works closely with you to create personalized tributes that reflect the individuality of your loved one.
Available Benefits
Social Security provides two types of benefits that may be available to eligible family members when a person dies:
One-Time Death Benefit
A one-time payment of $255 can be paid to the surviving spouse if they were living with the deceased, or if they were living apart but receiving certain Social Security benefits on the deceased's record. If there is no surviving spouse, the payment can be made to a child who is eligible for benefits on the deceased's record.
Monthly Survivor Benefits
Certain family members may be eligible to receive monthly benefits, including:
A widow or widower age 60 or older (age 50 or older if disabled)
A surviving divorced spouse, under certain circumstances
A widow or widower at any age who is caring for the deceased's child under age 16 or disabled=
An unmarried child of the deceased who is younger than 18 (or up to 19 if a full-time student in elementary or secondary school), or 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22
Parents, age 62 or older, who were dependent on the deceased for at least half of their support
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for survivor benefits, the deceased person must have worked long enough under Social Security to qualify for benefits. Generally, this means earning 40 Social Security credits (about 10 years of work), but younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.
The amount of the benefit is based on the earnings of the person who died. The more they paid into Social Security, the higher the benefits would be. The exact amount a family member can receive depends on their relationship to the deceased and their age.
Required Documents
When applying for Social Security survivor benefits, you will need to provide certain documents. These may include:
Proof of death (death certificate or funeral home statement)
Your Social Security number and the deceased worker's Social Security number
Your birth certificate
Your marriage certificate (if you are a widow or widower)
Divorce papers (if applying as a surviving divorced spouse)
Dependent children's Social Security numbers and birth certificates
The deceased worker's W-2 forms or federal self-employment tax return for the most recent year
Your bank account information for direct deposit
Don't delay your application if you don't have all these documents. The Social Security office will help you get the information you need.
How to Apply
You cannot apply for Social Security survivor benefits online. To apply, you must either:
Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778)
Visit your local Social Security office (appointments are recommended)
Our Assistance
As part of our commitment to supporting families during their time of loss, we can help with:
Notification to Social Security
We will notify Social Security of your loved one's passing as part of our standard services. This helps initiate the process, but family members will still need to apply for any survivor benefits.
Guidance on Required Documents
We can provide information about the documents you'll need to gather for your application and help you obtain copies of the death certificate.
Resource Information
We can provide contact information for your local Social Security office and other resources that may be helpful during this process.
Coordination with Other Benefits
We can help you understand how Social Security benefits may coordinate with other benefits, such as veterans benefits or life insurance.
While we can provide general information and assistance, specific questions about eligibility and benefit amounts should be directed to the Social Security Administration.
Need Additional Assistance?
If you have questions about Social Security benefits or need guidance during this difficult time, our compassionate team is here to help.
