socialsecurity

LUMP SUM DEATH BENEFIT
A lump-sum death benefit of $255 may be paid upon the death of a person who
has worked long enough to be insured under the Social Security program. The
lump-sum death benefit can be paid upon the death of the insured person even if
they were not receiving retirement or disability benefits at the time of death.

This payment is limited to a spouse who was living with the worker at the time of
death, to a spouse who, in the month of death, is eligible for certain Social Security
benefits based on the workers record, or a child who, in the month of death, is
eligible for a Social Security benefit based on the worker's record. If no spouse or
child meeting these requirements exists, then the lump sum death payment will not
be paid.

SURVIVOR BENEFITS
When a worker dies, certain family members may be eligible for survivors benefits
based on his/her record if the worker had enough Social Security earnings credits.
For many survivor cases, the number of required earnings credits is based on the
worker's age at the time of death. In general, younger workers need fewer
earnings credits than older workers. However, no worker needs more than 40
earnings credits (10 years of work) to be fully insured for any Social Security
benefit.

Social Security survivors benefits can be paid to:

A widow/widower-full benefits at full retirement age, or reduced benefits as early as
age 60. A disabled widow/widower may receive benefits as early as age 50.
A widow/widower at any age if he or she takes care of the deceased's child under
age 16 or disabled, who receives Social Security benefits.
Unmarried children under 18, or up to age 19 if they are attending elementary or
secondary school full time. A child can receive benefits at any age if he or she was
disabled before age 22 and remains disabled. Under certain circumstances,
benefits can also be paid to stepchildren, grandchildren, or adopted children.
Dependent parents at 62 or older.
You may be interested to know that a former spouse can receive benefits under
the same circumstances as a widow/widower if the marriage lasted 10 years or
more. Benefits paid to a surviving divorced spouse who is 60 or older will not affect
the benefit rates for other survivors receiving benefits.

Please note that in general, a widow/widower cannot receive benefits if they
remarry before the age of 60 (50 if disabled) unless the latter marriage ends,
whether by death, divorce, or annulment. However, remarriage after age 60 (50 if
disabled) will not prevent payments on a former spouse's record.

The amount of the survivors benefit is based on the earnings of the person who
died. The more he or she paid into Social Security, the higher the benefits will be.
The amount a survivor receives is a percentage of the deceased's basic Social
Security benefit. The following provides the most typical situations:

Widow or widower full retirement age or older-100 percent.
Widow or widower age 60 to 64-about 71 - 94 percent.
Widow or widower at any age with a child under age 16 - 75 percent.
Children - 75 percent.

If a person is receiving widow/widower's benefits, they can switch to their own
retirement benefits (assuming they are eligible and their retirement rate is higher
than the widow/widower's rate) as early as age 62. In many cases, a widow/widower
can begin receiving one benefit at a reduced rate and then switch to the other
benefit at an unreduced rate at full retirement age. However, they will not be paid
both benefits - they will be paid the higher of the two benefits.

APPLYING FOR BENEFITS
You must apply in order to receive benefits. You may apply at any Social Security
office or, if you wish, you may apply by telephone. Just dial the toll-free number
1-800-772-1213 and the operator will schedule an appointment for you or arrange
for the local Social Security office to take your claim by telephone.