Social Security Survivors Insurance

Social Security helps survivors by providing income for the families of workers who die.

Widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses age 60 or over are entitled as long as the worker met the insurance requirements. Widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses also qualify at any age if they have entitled children of the worker under age 16 or disabled children in their care; unmarried children: under age 18, under age 19 and a full-time student in elementary or secondary school or age 18 or older and under a disability which began before age 22; and dependent parents age 62 and over.

Survivor family members.

Widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses age 60 or over are entitled as long as the worker met the insurance requirements. Widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses also qualify at any age if they have entitled children of the worker under age 16 or disabled children in their care; unmarried children: under age 18, under age 19 and a full-time student in elementary or secondary school or age 18 or older and under a disability which began before age 22; and dependent parents age 62 and over. To claim benefits as disabled widows, widowers, or surviving divorced spouses, individuals ages 50-59 must show that they have a disability that started no later than 7 years after the insured died or 7 years after certain other events. "Disability" currently has the same meaning for these entitlements as it does for workers who claim disability insurance (see 96.001). As in worker disability claims, there is also a 5-month waiting period after the disability began before benefits begin and entitlement to Medicare after 24 months of entitlement to benefits. Children of the worker claiming benefits because of disability are also subject to the definition of disability used for workers and must show that they have been disabled since before they reached age 22. There is no waiting period for these benefits.

Monthly cash benefits are paid to eligible family members of deceased workers. There are no restrictions on the use of benefits, although the right to future benefits is not transferable or assignable. The Federal government gives the States funds, in advance or by way of reimbursement, for necessary costs in making disability determinations under 20 CFR part 404 subparts P and Q. Necessary costs are direct as well as indirect costs as defined in 41 CFR Part 1-15, Subpart 1-15.7 of the Federal Procurement Regulations System for costs incurred before April 1, 1984; and 48 CFR 31, Subpart 31.6 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations System and Federal Management Circular A-74-4 as amended or superseded for costs incurred after March 31, 1984.

After review of the application is completed, the applicant (or representative payee) will be notified by mail. Once an individual provides the required evidence or proof, an SSA employee will process the application and award benefits. SSA mails a notice to the beneficiary to notify them of the award.

You must contact your local SSA Field Office (FO) for application deadlines. Generally, an individual has up to 6 months to file an application for monthly benefits. The 6-month period starts from the date the individual contacts SSA to inform of their intent to file for benefits and SSA sends a notification of the 6-month period. Individuals filing for the one-time Lump-Sum Death Payment (LSDP) must file an application within two years of the death of the worker.

Call toll free at 1 (800) 772-1213 or telephone or visit the local Social Security office. The appeal process can range from a case review to a review by the Federal courts. An appeal must be requested in writing within 60 days of the date on which a written notice of SSA's decision is received by the applicant. The 60 days start the day after receipt of the notice. A claimant or their appointed representative who disagrees with an initial determination or decision may request further review under the administrative review process, also known as the appeal process. They must request a review within 60 days of the decision or lose the right to further review. SSA presumes that an individual receives a notice five days after the date on the notice.