| Losing a loved one is hard. It is additionally difficult | | | | A one-time payment of $255 shall be given to a |
| when that person was the one who was | | | | spouse or to the minor children if they have met |
| providing for the family. Without him, family | | | | the requirements set by the Social Security and if |
| members begin to think that they had no one | | | | the deceased worker has worked long enough. |
| else to turn to for support, especially for | | | | Who receives the survivor benefits? |
| emotional and financial support. | | | | Not all family members get to receive the |
| Luckily, this is not true. Social Security came up | | | | survivor benefits. Only those eligible receives |
| with a seamless solution. With the help of the | | | | them. They are as follows: |
| Social Security Survivor Benefits Program, | | | | - The widow or widower who shall receive the (a) |
| surviving family members would be able to get on | | | | full benefit if 65 years or older; or if disabled and |
| their feet after the loss and start anew. | | | | 50 years or older; (b) reduced benefit if aged 60 |
| What is Survivor Benefits? | | | | years. |
| It is a program launched by the Social Security to | | | | |
| aid surviving family members by providing them | | | | - The widow or widower who shall receive |
| monthly pensions based on the contributions given | | | | benefits, regardless of age, if she/he takes care |
| by the deceased wage earner to Social Security. | | | | of the deceased’s child (a) entitled to |
| How can a worker be eligible for Survivor | | | | child’s benefit and is age 16 and below; or |
| Benefits? | | | | (b) who is disabled. |
| By paying contributions to the Social Security, a | | | | - The unmarried children who are (a) 18 years |
| worker earns credits that are transmitted to his | | | | and below; (b) up to 19 years old if attending full |
| Survivor Benefits. Generally, his eligibility is founded | | | | time elementary or secondary school; (c) disabled, |
| on the number of years he/she worked and how | | | | regardless of age, if became disabled before |
| old he/she died. | | | | turning 22 and remain disabled. |
| Younger workers earn higher credits than older | | | | - The stepchildren, grandchildren, stepgrandchildren |
| workers. Nevertheless, a worker who has | | | | or adopted children, under certain circumstances. |
| rendered 10 years of service is automatically | | | | - The dependent parents if they are 62 years |
| entitled to the Survivor Benefits. | | | | and above. |
| Exception: If within three years before the | | | | What should I present to avail of the survivor |
| worker’s death, he had worked for only a | | | | benefits? |
| year and a half, his children and his spouse (who | | | | The following may be presented by the |
| cared for his children) shall be entitled to | | | | dependents in order to claim the survivor benefits |
| survivor’s benefits. | | | | of a deceased loved one: |
| How much Survivor Benefits will I receive? | | | | - Proof of death; |
| The computation for the Survivor Benefits is | | | | - The deceased’s and your social security |
| based on how much the deceased paid to Social | | | | number; |
| Security. The more contribution he/she gave the | | | | - Your birth certificate; |
| more benefits the family members will receive. It | | | | - Your marriage certificate; |
| is calculated by getting the percentage based on | | | | - Your divorce papers; |
| his basic benefits amount. The said percentage | | | | - The social security numbers of dependent |
| shall vary on how old the survivors are and how | | | | children; |
| they are related to the deceased wage earner. | | | | - The birth certificate of dependent children; |
| For instance: | | | | - W-2 forms or federal self-employment tax |
| - The Widow or widower gets 100% benefits if | | | | return for the most recent year of the deceased |
| he is within the retirement age or older. | | | | worker; and |
| - The Widow or widower gets 71-94% benefits if | | | | - The bank’s name and your account |
| he is between 60 to 64 years old. | | | | number where you want the survivor benefits to |
| - The Widow or widower, regardless of the age, | | | | be deposited. |
| gets 75% benefits if with a child under age 16. | | | | For more questions on Survivor Benefits, it would |
| - The Children gets 75% benefits. | | | | be advisable to consult a Social Security Attorney |
| What is the one-time death payment? | | | | near you. |