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How to Claim Social Security Survivor's Benefits

Social Security should be notified as soon as possible when a person dies.  Some of the deceased’s family members may be able to receive Social Security benefits if the deceased person worked long enough under Social Security to qualify for benefits. You should get in touch with Social Security as soon as you can to make sure the family receives all of the benefits to which it may be entitled.

Please read the following information carefully to learn what benefits may be available:

• A one-time payment of $255 can be paid to the surviving spouse if he or she was living with the deceased; or, if living apart, was receiving certain Social Security benefits on the deceased’s record. If there is no surviving spouse, the payment is made to a child who is eligible for benefits on the deceased’s record in the month of death.

• 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 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 age 18 (or up to age 19 if he or she is a full-time student in an elementary or secondary school); or
• Age 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22;—A stepchild, grandchild, stepgrandchild or adopted child under certain circumstances;

• Parents, age 62 or older, who were dependent on the deceased for at least half of their support; and

• A surviving divorced spouse, under certain circumstances.

If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, you must return the benefit received for the month of death or any later months. For example, if the person dies in July, you must return the benefit paid in August. If benefits were paid by direct deposit, contact the bank or other financial institution. Request that any funds received for the month of death or later be returned to Social Security. If the benefits were paid by check, do not cash any checks received for the month in which the person dies or later. Return the checks to Social Security as soon as possible.
However, eligible family members may be able to receive death benefits for the month in which the beneficiary died.

In order to begin the claims process, you should call 1-800-722-1213 or make an appointment at your local Social Security office, even if you don’t have all of the papers listed below - your social security office can help you find them, especially if they’re a matter of public record.

To apply for social security benefits after a loved one’s death, you should have or know the following:

• have their death certificate or proof of death (the State of Arizona issues one free death certificate for each family for social security purposes, marked in red, "For Government Use Only")
  
• your Social Security Number, and the decedent's
  
• your marriage certificate if you’re a widow or widower
  
• if you weren’t born in the US, proof of citizenship or lawful alien status
  
• any dependent’s SSN’s and birth certificates
  
• the deceased’s most recent W2s or self-employment tax returns
  
• names and SSNs of any former spouses (yours or the deceased)
  
• bank name and account number for direct deposit
  
• military papers (DD-214)
  

For more information, visit their website at www.socialsecurity.gov or call toll-free, 1-800-772-1213. They answer phone calls from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.