Social Security Benefits

Do you need information about social security payments, including benefits paid for funeral costs? The first required step is to determine eligibility. The individual who has passed away must have credit for work covered by Social Security, anywhere from 1.5 to 10 years depending on his or her age at the time of passing.

You may be eligible to receive monthly benefits if you are any of the following:

• A widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled), or any age if caring for an entitled child under the age of 16 or disabled.
• A divorced widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled), if the marriage lasted 10 years, or if caring for an entitled child under the age of 16 or disabled.
• Unmarried children up to 18 (19 if they are attending a primary or secondary school full-time)
• Children who were disabled before reaching the age of 22, and remain disabled
• Dependent parent or parents 62 or older.

In addition to the monthly cash benefits described above, a one-time payment of $255 is paid as a lump-sum death payment in the following priority order:

1. A surviving spouse who lived in the same household as the deceased at the time of death.
2. A surviving spouse eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death.
3. A child or children eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death.

To receive benefits, you must apply at any Social Security office or by calling (800) 772‑1213 between 7:00am to 7:00pm on regular business days. On weekends and holidays, leave a message and they will return your call as soon as possible to schedule an appointment for you or arrange for the local Social Security office to take your claim by telephone.