Social Security & Survivor Benefits

Social Security

The loss of the family wage earner can be devastating, emotionally and financially. Social Security helps by providing income for families of workers who die. In fact, 98 of every 100 children could get benefits if a working parent dies. Social Security pays more benefits to children than any other federal program.

Survivor Benefits

Many people think of Social Security only as a retirement program. But some of the Social Security taxes you pay go toward providing survivors insurance for workers and their families. Oftentimes, the value of the survivors insurance you have is more than the value of your individual life insurance.

When you die, certain members of your family may be eligible for survivors benefits. These include widows, widowers (and divorced widows and widowers), children and dependent parents.

As you work and pay Social Security taxes, you earn credits toward your Social Security benefits. The number of years you need to work for your family to be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits depends on your age when you die. The younger you are, the fewer years you need to work. But no one needs more than ten years of work to be eligible for Social Security benefits.

Under a special rule, if you have worked for only one and one-half years in the three years just before your death, benefits can be paid to your children and your spouse who is caring for your children.

Applying for Survivors Benefits

If you are not currently getting Social Security benefits, you should apply for survivors' benefits promptly because, in some cases, benefits will be paid from the time you apply and not from the time the worker died.

The information needed includes:

Proof of death, either from a funeral home or death certificate
Your Social Security number, as well as the deceased worker's
Your birth certificate
Your marriage certificate, if you are a widow or widower
Your divorce papers, if you are applying as a divorced widow or widower
Dependent children's Social Security numbers, if available, and birth certificates
Deceased worker's W-2 forms or federal self-employment tax return for the most recent year
The name of your bank and your account number so benefits can be deposited directly

If you are getting benefits as a wife or husband based on your spouse's work when you report the death, The Social Security Administration will change your payments to survivors benefits. If you are getting benefits based on your own work, call or visit a Social Security office to check if you can get more money as a widow or widower.

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.

Who Can Qualify?

Key points

A widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled), or at any age if caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled.
A divorced widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled) if the marriage lasted 10 years, or if caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled.
Unmarried children up to 18 (19 if they are attending a primary or secondary school full lime).
Children who were disabled before reaching 22, as long as they remained disabled.
Dependent parent or parents 62 or older.

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.

Read more about survivor benefits at SocialSecurity.gov. Or call Burton Quinn Scott at 814-454-4551.

Testimonials

Dear Mark –
Our family wants to thank you and the Burton staff for the wonderful celebration of life you made possible for us. I want to personally thank you for your help and guidance through his process.
Generations of our family have been at Burton’s and we have always been pleased.
January 10, 2019

Karen,
Over the past year, you have been a tremendous help to me as I tried to move the through two very sudden and grief filled situations and deaths. My sister’s funeral went very well. She is home and laid to rest next to our parents. It was a very small, quiet service that let us bury her in a manner that let us grieve and honor her. Your help in coordinating two out of town funerals was immensely appreciated. I could not have done it without your expert help.
Your quiet understanding and very capable nature made these difficult situations more bearable.
Enjoy the summer!
Thank you for the beautiful card and words on the anniversary of Dad’s passing.

July 24, 2018

Dear Burton Pet Loss,
Thank you for your generous gift basket. We appreciate you keeping us in your thoughts this season.
Staff of a Local Vet

December 22, 2018

Both James Scott and Patricia Brunner were so wonderful. If they treat everyone like they did us, they would need no improvement. – Mary Ellen
07/15/2022

To the Staff of Burton Funeral Homes and Crematory,
I am so thankful for your kindness and care for my companion and friend. He was not just an ordinary pet he was an extraordinary, local, gentle sweet service dog who helped me with balance and support for almost six years. Thank you for helping us have him close by.

July 28, 2018

We cannot thank you enough for your care, attention and support this past month. We sincerely appreciate your personal and professional courtesy you showed our entire family and we were grateful for your guidance. You made an incredibly difficult time so much less overwhelming. We feel blessed for your role in this life transition.
January 28, 2018

Burton Funeral Homes,
Veteran’s stockings were appreciated by our Veteran Residents!
Local Nursing Home

January 4, 2019

Thanks to all of you for making the most difficult time in our lives a bit easier.
The home looked beautiful. The newspaper article and picture video was just a great honor to our memories and to our loved one’s Life. The Service was what we wanted to share, thanks for making it happen.
With sincere appreciation.

July 10, 2018

Thank you for the beautiful service you had for our loved ones who passed away!
Thank you for the beautiful ornament too!
January 6, 2019