Social Security Benefits

Guiding You Through The Process

The family members of the deceased may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits if the deceased had worked long enough under Social Security to qualify for benefits. It's important to contact the Social Security office as soon as possible to ensure that the family receives all the benefits they are entitled to. Please carefully read the following information to understand what benefits may be available.

A one-time payment of $255 is paid in addition to the monthly cash benefits described above. The lump-sum death payment (LSDP) is paid in the following priority order:

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

To receive monthly benefits, the deceased worker must have credit for work covered by Social Security ranging from 1 1/2 to 10 years depending on his or her age at death. Those eligible for monthly benefits include:

  • A widow or widower age 60 or older (age 50 or older if disabled);
  • A surviving spouse at any age who is caring for the deceased's child under age 16 or disabled;
  • An unmarried child of the deceased who is younger than age 18 (or age 18 or 19 if he or she is a full-time student in an elementary or secondary school); or age 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22;
  • Parents, age 62 or older, who were dependent on the deceased for at least half of their support; and
  • A surviving divorced spouse, under certain circumstances.
Visit the Social Security website for information about all of Social Security's programs, including survivors' benefits.

You can also call them toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. Staff can answer specific questions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., M-F. They can also provide information by automated phone service 24 hours a day. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call the TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.

Let's Connect

Contact Us Today

Contact Us

©2024 - Gehlbach & Royse Funeral Homes - All Rights Reserved

- Privacy PolicyPowered By Gather logo
text-align-left