Social Security Benefits
Social Security survivor benefits.
Family members of a person who worked under Social Security may be entitled to benefits. Get in touch with Social Security as soon as you can to make sure your family receives everything it's entitled to.
One-time payment
A one-time payment of $255 can be paid to the surviving spouse if he or she was living with the deceased, or to an eligible child if there is no surviving spouse.
Who may qualify for monthly benefits
- Widows or widowers age 60 or older (50 or older if disabled)
- Surviving spouses caring for a child under 16, or a disabled child
- Unmarried children under 18 (or up to 19 if a full-time student)
- Children 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22
- Parents age 62 or older who depended on the deceased for at least half their support
- Surviving divorced spouses, under certain conditions
How to reach Social Security
Call toll-free at 1-800-772-1213, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, the TTY line is 1-800-325-0778. Online services are also available at ssa.gov.
How may we help your family?
We are available any time of day, any day of the week.