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Widows, Widowers & Other Survivors | |||||
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Qualify and Apply |
Definition of survivors benefits |
When a person who has worked and paid Social
Security taxes dies, certain members
of the family may be eligible for survivors benefits. Up to ten years
of work is needed to be eligible for benefits, depending on the person's
age at the time of death. |
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Who is eligible for survivors
benefits |
Social Security survivors benefits can be paid to:
Our Calculators can help you
figure how much your benefits will be. |
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How work affects survivors benefits |
You can receive Social Security survivors benefits
and work at the same time. However, depending on your age, your benefits
could be reduced if you earn more than certain amounts. For more information,
we recommend our leaflet, How Work Affects
Your Benefits, publication number 05-10069. |
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How divorce affects survivors benefits |
If your divorced spouse dies, you can receive benefits
as a widow/widower if the marriage lasted 10 years or longer and you are
age 60 or older (or age 50 if you are disabled.) Benefits paid to a surviving
divorced spouse who is 60 or older (age 50 if disabled) will not affect
the benefit rates for other survivors receiving benefits. |
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How remarriage affects survivors benefits |
In general, you cannot receive survivors benefits
if you remarry before the age of 60 unless the latter marriage ends, whether
by death, divorce, or annulment. If you remarry after age 60 (50 if disabled),
you can still collect benefits on your former spouse's record. When you
reach age 62 or older, you may get retirement benefits on the record of
your new spouse if they are higher.
Your remarriage would have no effect on the benefits being paid to your
children. |
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How retirement affects survivors benefits |
If you are collecting survivors benefits, you can switch to your own retirement benefits (assuming you are eligible and your retirement rate is higher than the widow/widower's rate) as early as age 62. In many cases, you can begin receiving retirement benefits either on
your own or your spouse's record at age 62 and then switch to the other
benefit when you reach full retirement age, if that amount is higher.
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How to apply |
When you apply, please be ready to supply the information we need to approve your application for these benefits:
Also, bring your checkbook or other papers that show your account number
at a bank, credit union or other financial institution, so you can have
your benefits deposited directly into your account. Direct
deposit protects you from loss or theft of your check, and mail delays.
The money is always on time and ready for you to use without a trip to
the bank. |
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