Social Security Survivors Insurance
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Program Objective
Social Security helps survivors by providing income for the families of workers who die.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Individuals / families
Survivor family members.
Beneficiaries
- 23
- 44
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
Widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses age 60 or over are entitled as long as the worker met the insurance requirements. Widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses also qualify at any age if they have entitled children of the worker under age 16 or disabled children in their care; unmarried children: under age 18, under age 19 and a full-time student in elementary or secondary school or age 18 or older and under a disability which began before age 22; and dependent parents age 62 and over. To claim benefits as disabled widows, widowers, or surviving divorced spouses, individuals ages 50-59 must show that they have a disability that started no later than 7 years after the insured died or 7 years after certain other events. "Disability" currently has the same meaning for these entitlements as it does for workers who claim disability insurance (see 96.001). As in worker disability claims, there is also a 5-month waiting period after the disability began before benefits begin and entitlement to Medicare after 24 months of entitlement to benefits. Children of the worker claiming benefits because of disability are also subject to the definition of disability used for workers and must show that they have been disabled since before they reached age 22. There is no waiting period for these benefits.
How to Apply
Application Procedure
Call toll free at 1 (800) 772-1213 or telephone or visit the local Social Security Office.
Individuals meeting the eligibility requirements can file an application at the local SSA office. Once an individual provides the required evidence or proof, an SSA employee will process the application and award benefits. Benefits are paid monthly and for a month on the past. A benefit due for January is paid on February as long as the survivor individual was alive for the full month of January.
Award Procedure
After review of the application is completed, the applicant (or representative payee) will be notified by mail.
Once an individual provides the required evidence or proof, an SSA employee will process the application and award benefits. SSA mails a notice to the beneficiary to notify them of the award.
Program details & compliance
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Monthly cash benefits are paid to eligible family members of deceased workers. There are no restrictions on the use of benefits, although the right to future benefits is not transferable or assignable. The Federal government gives the States funds, in advance or by way of reimbursement, for necessary costs in making disability determinations under 20 CFR part 404 subparts P and Q. Necessary costs are direct as well as indirect costs as defined in 41 CFR Part 1-15, Subpart 1-15.7 of the Federal Procurement Regulations System for costs incurred before April 1, 1984; and 48 CFR 31, Subpart 31.6 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations System and Federal Management Circular A-74-4 as amended or superseded for costs incurred after March 31, 1984.
Required Documentation
Individuals filing for their children or as a spouse as survivors under the worker’s record must provide proofs of age, dependency, support, and relationship. Applicants must also provide proof of death for the worker. All individuals filing for benefits must have a valid Social Security Number (SSN).
Non-US citizens must provide proof of lawful alien status to be eligible to Social Security payments.