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.