Losing a loved one can be both emotionally and financially overwhelming. Social Security offers support to the families of workers who have passed away, providing financial assistance to their dependents.
Social Security not only protects workers who become disabled and unable to work, but it also includes a life insurance component for the families of deceased workers who have contributed to the program. According to U.S. government sources, over 98% of children in the U.S. are covered by this insurance, making Social Security the largest provider of benefits to American children, surpassing all other public or private programs.
Who Is Eligible for Social Security Survivors’ Benefits?
Immediate family members of the deceased worker are generally eligible for benefits. This includes:
- Widowed Spouses: Benefits can be received in full until age 65, if born before 1940. Disabled widowed spouses can start receiving benefits as early as age 50.
- Children: Unmarried children under 18 are eligible. Those aged 19 or younger who are still in secondary school may also qualify. Children disabled before age 22 and who remain disabled are eligible for benefits.
- Dependent Parents: Parents of the deceased worker who are 62 or older, can receive benefits.
How Much Are the Survivors’ Benefits?
Survivor benefits are based on the deceased worker’s lifetime earnings and Social Security contributions. Essentially, the more the worker earned and contributed, the higher the benefits for their dependents. To understand the estimated benefits in the event of death, it is helpful to review the annual Social Security benefits statement, which provides estimates for disability, retirement, and survivor benefits.