Some workers worry about the future of their children and spouses if they pass away. Social Security survivor benefits offer the possibility to receive monthly payments on someone else’s record once the worker dies.
Survivor benefits can provide monthly average payments worth $1,504. In fact, three groups of recipients can receive these benefits. For example, widowed mothers and fathers, children, and even parents.
Can a surviving divorced spouse receive Social Security survivor benefits?
As a matter of fact, the Administration claims that a surviving divorced spouse may also be eligible for survivor benefits. So, all these recipients will get benefits based on the deceased worker’s earnings history.
For your information, it is not possible to claim survivor benefits online. Sometimes you do not need to report the death, but if you must do it, simply call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or if you are deaf or hard of hearing TTY 1-800-325-0778.
Apart from survivor benefits, a one-time lump sum death payment will be sent to those who qualify and claim it. This one-time lump sum payment is worth $255. In general, it is for a qualifying spouse or child who meets all the requirements.
Social Security unveils survivor benefit amounts
It is possible to know the approximate amount of your survivor benefits if you download a Social Security Statement. This Statement will show you possible amounts for minor child, a spouse with a child with a disability or under 16, a spouse filing at Full Retirement Age.
What is more, it will show you the maximum amount for the whole family. Children of deceased workers get an average payment worth 1,106.79. If you are a widowed father or mother, you could get an average payment worth 1,270.63.
Social Security said that the average payment for parents of deceased workers is about 1,616.20. Widow(er)s with a disability may get about 927.26. The largest average Social Security survivor benefits are for widow(er)s without a disability, about 1,782.54.
