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Laws and Other Information

Social Security Administration

Benefit Information

Form SSA-721 (9-91)

A MESSAGE FROM SOCIAL SECURITY

Your funeral director is helping the Social Security office by giving you this information about Social Security benefits. If the deceased was receiving benefits, you need to contact us to report the death. If you think you may be eligible for survivors benefits, you should contact us to apply.

HOW SOCIAL SECURITY HELPS FAMILIES

Social Security survivors benefits help ease the financial burden that follows a worker's death. Almost all children under age 18 will get monthly benefits if a working parent dies. Other family members may be eligible for benefits, too.

Anyone who has worked and paid Social Security (FICA) taxes has been earning Social Security benefits for his or her family. The amount of work needed to pay survivors benefits depends on the worker's age at the time of death. It may be as little as 1-1/2 years for a young worker. No one needs more than 10 years.

WHO CAN GET SURVIVORS BENEFITS?

Here is a list of family members who usually can get benefits:

• Widows and widowers age 60 or older.
• Widows and widowers at any age if caring for the deceased's child(ren) who are under age 16 or disabled.
• Divorced wives and husbands age 60 or older, if married to the deceased 10 years or more.
• Widows, widowers, divorced wives, and divorced husbands age 50 or older, if they are disabled.
• Children up to age 18.
• Children age 18 - 19, if they attend elementary school or high school full time.
• Children over age 18, if they became disabled before age 22.
• The deceased worker's parents age 62 or older, if they were being supported by the worker.

In addition to the monthly benefits for family members, a one-time payment of $255 can be paid to a spouse who was living with the worker at the time of death. If there is none, it can be paid to:

• A spouse who is eligible for benefits.
• A child or children eligible for benefits.

HOW TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS

You can apply for benefits by telephone or by going to any Social Security office. You may need some of the documents shown on the list below. But don't delay your application because you don't have all the information. If you don't have a document you need, Social Security can help you get it.

INFORMATION NEEDED

• Your Social Security number and the deceased worker's Social Security number.
• A death certificate. (Generally, the funeral director provides a statement that can be used for this purpose.)
  • NOTE: If the death certificate was filed electronically (after 9/1/2007), then Social Security was automatically notified with the decedent's Social Security number being verified to the funeral home BEFORE the certificate was completed. Look at the bottom left hand corner of your death certificate (just underneath Box #42a). If you see "EDR NUMBER 000000xxxxxx", then Social Security has already received the necessary proof of death. The EDR NUMBER (Electronic Death Record Number) can be obtained by calling the funeral home if you donot have a copy of the death certificate. Click HERE for a copy of the letter provided on November 19, 2007 from Evelyn Jones-Dubra, TER Support Service, Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics, Phone: 458-7111 Ext 2670, Toll free: 888.963-7111 from Social Security regarding this matter.
• Proof of the deceased worker's earnings for last year (W-2 forms or self-employment tax return.)
• Your birth certificate.
• A marriage certificate, if you are applying for benefits as a widow, widower, divorced wife, or divorced husband.
• A divorce decree, if you are applying for benefits as a divorced wife or husband.
• Children's birth certificates and Social Security numbers, if applying for children's benefits.
• Your checking or savings account information, if you want direct deposit of your benefits.

SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI)

If you are 65 or older, disabled, or blind, ask the Social Security representative about Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks for people with limited income and resources. If you receive SSI, you may also qualify for Medicaid, food stamps, and other social services.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information, write or visit any Social Security office, or phone the toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213. You can speak to a representative weekdays 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A REMINDER

If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, any checks which arrive after death will need to be returned to the Social Security office. If Social Security checks were being directly deposited into a bank account, the bank needs to be notified of the death, too.