When You Die What Happens to Social Security?
Social Security
When a person dies, their Social Security benefits will stop. However, certain members of their families may be eligible for survivor benefits.
These benefits are based on the deceased person’s earnings record and the survivor’s eligibility.
If a person dies before retirement, their family may be eligible for a one-time death benefit payment of $255. This payment is intended to help cover the cost of the funeral expenses.
Survivor Benefits
Survivor benefits can be paid to a spouse if they are at least 62 years old or taking care of a child who is eligible for benefits and under 16 years old.
The benefit amount is generally equal to the deceased worker’s total benefit amount, but it may be reduced if the spouse receives benefits before their full retirement age.
If a spouse is at least 60 years old, they can also receive a reduced survivor benefit if they are disabled and the disability began before or within seven years of the worker’s death.
If the survivor is a divorced spouse, they may be eligible for benefits if they were married to the deceased worker for at least ten years and are not currently remarried.
The benefit amount is the same as if the divorced spouse were still married to the worker.
Minor children of the deceased worker may also be eligible for survivor benefits. If the children are under 18, or if they are 18 or 19 and still in high school, they can receive benefits until they are no longer eligible. The benefit amount generally equals 75% of the worker’s full benefit amount.
If the deceased worker has dependent parents at least 62 years old, they may also be eligible for survivor benefits. The benefit amount generally equals 82.5% of the worker’s full benefit amount.
It’s important to note that if the survivor is eligible for both their own benefits and survivor benefits, they will receive the higher of the two amounts.
Also, if a survivor is eligible for benefits from more than one source, such as their own and their deceased spouse’s benefit, the Social Security Administration will pay the higher benefit first and will not pay more than the family’s maximum benefit amount.
It’s also worth mentioning that if a worker has not yet started receiving retirement benefits, the surviving spouse will not be able to receive any survivor benefits until the worker begins receiving retirement benefits or until the surviving spouse reaches retirement age.
Conclusion
In summary, when a person dies, their Social Security benefits will stop. However, certain members of their family may be eligible for survivor benefits, such as a spouse or minor children.
These benefits are based on the deceased person’s earnings record and the survivor’s eligibility. If a person dies before retirement age, their family may be eligible for a one-time death benefit payment of $255.
It is important to be aware of these benefits and to take the necessary steps to apply for them if you are eligible.
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Category: Retirement
