Social Security Survivors’ Benefits – An Overview
Disability benefits paid to disabled Americans on the basis of a medical records review and Survivors Benefits are both highly beneficial for Americans.
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Social security benefits are a real lifeline to many Americans, and these are paid out every month to retired workers and their spouses who have paid into the Social Security system. Disability benefits are paid to permanently and completely disabled people on the basis of a comprehensive medical records review. In the United States, Social Security encompasses the Old Age, Survivors and Disability insurance federal program. In this article, we will examine the Survivors Benefits Program which account for 13% of the benefits paid out by Social Security. Survivors’ benefits paid by Social Security are designed to provide financial support to the family of a person who was paying into the system when he /she was working. The amount received would be based on the earnings of the person who died, and the more they paid into Social Security, the higher would be the survivors’ benefits. The amount of SS “credits” you need to be eligible for benefits for your survivors depends on your age when you die. No one needs more than 10 years of work to be eligible. The surviving spouse and children of a person who has credit for one and a half years of work in the 3 years preceding his/her death are eligible for survivors’ benefits. Who Are the Qualifying Survivors? Who are the qualifying survivors? •
A widow/widower age 60 or older (50 or older if disabled)
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A widow/widower of any age, if qualifying for her/his child who is below 16 years of age.
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Unmarried children under 18, or up to age 19 if still in high school.
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Unmarried children 18 years of age or older if they have a disability that began before age 22.
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The deceased’s parents, if they are over 62 and are financially dependent on the deceased.
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Dependent stepchild, grandchild, or step grandchild (in some cases)
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The deceased’s divorced spouse, provided certain conditions are met.
Benefits Amount Paid Now we come to the amount of survivor’s benefits that will be paid to the family. This depends on the survivors’ relationship to the deceased person, and the number of people who
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will be receiving benefits on the basis of the deceased’s work record. Here are the benefits they can receive according to the Social Security Administration. •
Widow/widower, full retirement age or older : 100% of the deceased worker’s benefit amount
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Widow/widower, age 60, full retirement age : 71 ½ to 99% of the deceased worker’s basic amount
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Widow/widower, any age, caring for a child under age 16 : 75%
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Disabled widow/widower aged 50 through 59 :71 ½%
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A child under age 18 (19, if still in elementary or secondary school) or disabled : 75%
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Dependent parent(s) of the deceased worker, age 62 or older: o One surviving parent : 82 ½% o Two surviving parents : 75% to each parent
The percentages for a surviving divorced widow/widower would be the same as above. A special lump-sum death benefit of $255 may also be paid to a surviving spouse or child if they meet certain requirements. This amount is usually paid to the surviving spouse who was living in the same household with the deceased person. The lump-sum amount can be paid to the deceased’s child/children in the following scenarios: If during the month the worker died, the child •
Was already receiving benefits on the worker’s record
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Became eligible for benefits upon the worker’s death
Eligible surviving spouse or child who is not currently receiving benefits must apply for this payment within 2 years of the date of death. It is important to understand that if the deceased person was receiving reduced benefits, survivor’s benefit is calculated on the basis of that amount. The maximum survivors benefit amount is limited to what they would receive if they were still alive. Maximum Amount Paid Based on one’s work record, there is a maximum amount of survivors’ benefits that can be paid to one’s survivors. This maximum amount that can be paid on one’s work record is based on a formula that results in a total of 150% to 180% of your PIA (Primary Insurance
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Amount). If the survivors’ benefits in total add up to more than this percentage of your PIA, all survivors’ benefits will be reduced proportionately. However, the benefits paid to a surviving divorced spouse based on disability or age will not count toward this maximum amount. Survivors’ Benefits – Invaluable Financial Support A vital component of the Social Security program, survivors benefits help take care of a worker’s family financially in the unfortunate event of his/her death. At the end of 2016, 6.1 million Americans were receiving survivors’ benefits amounting to a total of $6.8 billion per month or an average of around $1,115 per beneficiary. As providers of medical record review for attorneys including disability attorneys, we know that many Americans rely on expert legal advice when applying for social security benefits. Surely, you stand a better chance of submitting accurate claims and getting the benefits granted with the support of experienced attorneys.
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