How to Apply for Social Security Survivor Benefits After a Family Member Dies

Survivor benefits are available to specific family members

Social Security survivor benefits provide monthly payments to certain family members of a person who worked and paid Social Security taxes before death.

Potential beneficiaries include:

• a surviving spouse;
• a surviving divorced spouse;
• an eligible child; and
• a dependent parent.

Eligibility is not automatic for every relative. SSA applies different age, relationship, marriage, dependency, disability and school-attendance rules depending on who is claiming.

Monthly survivor benefits cannot currently be applied for online

SSA states that you cannot currently apply for monthly survivor benefits online.

To apply, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or contact a local Social Security office. The TTY number is 1-800-325-0778.

SSA telephone representatives are generally available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in most U.S. time zones.

An appointment is not always required for an office visit, but SSA recommends calling ahead because scheduling an appointment can reduce waiting time.

The application date can affect when survivor payments begin

Contact SSA as soon as possible after the death. The date you contact or apply can affect when benefits begin and how much retroactive entitlement may be available under the rules applicable to that claim.

SSA's June 2026 guidance for children's survivor claims specifically warns families not to delay because the date they reach out can affect the child's benefit start date.

Do not assume that SSA will automatically start every survivor benefit just because the death has been reported.

Funeral homes usually report deaths to SSA

A funeral home will generally report the death to Social Security, so a family member often does not need to make a separate death report.

If the funeral home is not involved or does not report the death, SSA says you should call and provide the deceased person's:

• name;
• Social Security number;
• date of birth; and
• date of death.

Reporting the death and applying for survivor benefits are separate issues. A death report alone does not substitute for a survivor-benefit application when one is required.

When a widow or widower may qualify

A surviving spouse may generally qualify for age-based survivor benefits if they are:

• age 60 or older; or
• age 50 through 59 and have a qualifying disability.

SSA's current eligibility guidance also generally requires the marriage to have lasted at least 9 months before the worker's death, although federal law contains exceptions to this duration rule.

Remarriage can affect eligibility. SSA's general rule for age-based survivor benefits is that remarriage before age 60, or before age 50 for a surviving spouse with a disability, may prevent entitlement on the deceased spouse's record while that remarriage remains in effect. Remarriage after those ages is treated differently.

A spouse caring for an eligible child may qualify at any age

A surviving spouse can sometimes receive mother's or father's benefits regardless of age when caring for the deceased worker's entitled child who is under age 16 or has a disability.

This is a different eligibility route from age-based widow's or widower's benefits, so tell SSA if you are caring for the deceased worker's child even if you are younger than 60.

A former spouse may also qualify for survivor benefits

A former spouse can potentially receive survivor benefits on the deceased worker's Social Security record.

For the common age-based surviving divorced spouse benefit, SSA states that the marriage generally must have lasted at least 10 years.

The surviving divorced spouse generally must also meet the applicable age, disability and remarriage rules.

Different rules can apply to a surviving divorced mother or father who is caring for the deceased worker's entitled child, so the 10-year marriage rule should not be assumed to control every divorced-survivor claim.

Children can receive Social Security survivor benefits

A child of a deceased worker may generally qualify if the child is unmarried and is:

• age 17 or younger;
• age 18 through 19 and attending elementary or secondary school full time; or
• any age if a qualifying disability began before age 22.

SSA also recognizes additional relationships in certain circumstances, including adopted children, stepchildren, grandchildren and stepgrandchildren.

Relationship and dependency requirements can differ depending on the child's circumstances.

A child's payment is generally 75 percent before the family maximum

SSA states that an eligible child generally receives 75% of the deceased parent's benefit amount.

However, Social Security applies a family maximum to benefits paid on one worker's record. If several family members qualify, individual payments can be reduced so that the combined family amount remains within that maximum.

A deceased worker's parent may qualify at age 62 or older

A parent may be eligible for survivor benefits if they are age 62 or older and were financially dependent on the child who died.

SSA applies specific support requirements when determining whether the deceased worker provided the necessary financial support. A parent making a claim should be prepared to discuss the support the deceased child provided.

What a widow, widower or former spouse may need

SSA's instructions for widow's, widower's and surviving divorced spouse's claims state that it may request:

• proof of the worker's death;
• your birth certificate or other proof of birth;
• proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you were not born in the United States;
• military discharge papers if relevant;
• W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns for the prior year;
• a marriage certificate; and
• a final divorce decree if applying as a surviving divorced spouse.

SSA may request additional evidence depending on the facts of the case.

Prepare the child's identity and relationship records

For a child's claim, SSA may ask for:

• the child's birth certificate or other proof of birth or adoption;
• proof of the worker's marriage to the child's natural or adoptive parent if the claimant is a stepchild;
• proof of the child's U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if the child was not born in the United States;
• the child's W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns if the child had earnings; and
• proof of the worker's death and relevant military records when applicable.

SSA can tell you whether additional relationship or dependency evidence is required.

Dependent parents may need support and identity evidence

For a parent's survivor-benefit claim, SSA may request documents including:

• a birth certificate or other proof of the parent's age;
• proof of citizenship or lawful alien status when applicable;
• relevant military discharge records;
• W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns; and
• the deceased child's death certificate.

SSA may also need evidence showing that the deceased child provided the required level of financial support.

Do not mail irreplaceable originals unless SSA instructs you

SSA's survivor application instructions state that photocopies are acceptable for certain documents, including W-2 forms, self-employment tax returns and some medical records.

For many other documents, such as a birth certificate, SSA generally needs to see the original or an appropriate certified record. Documents submitted to SSA are returned.

Follow the instructions given for your particular claim rather than sending original documents without guidance.

Do not delay the application while collecting missing records

SSA specifically tells survivor applicants: do not delay filing merely because you do not have all the documents.

Social Security can explain which evidence is required and can assist with obtaining information in appropriate circumstances.

This is important because waiting to gather documents before contacting SSA can affect the filing date and potentially the period for which benefits are payable.

Spouse survivor payments depend on the age benefits begin

A surviving spouse's monthly payment is based on the deceased worker's Social Security record and the survivor's circumstances.

SSA states that spouse and ex-spouse survivor payments can begin at about 71.5% of the deceased spouse's benefit when claimed at the earliest applicable age and increase as the survivor waits.

A surviving spouse can receive up to 100% at survivor full retirement age, which falls between ages 66 and 67 depending on date of birth.

The exact amount can also be affected by other Social Security rules, including work and earnings before full retirement age.

Social Security does not simply add the two payments together

If you qualify for both a survivor benefit and another Social Security benefit, such as retirement based on your own work record, the payments are not added together.

SSA states that you generally receive the payment that is best for you and may have the option to switch benefits later.

For example, some people may begin survivor benefits first and later switch to their own retirement benefit if that payment becomes higher. Ask SSA to explain the options for your specific record before choosing a start date.

Earnings can temporarily reduce benefits before full retirement age

You can work while receiving survivor benefits, but the Social Security retirement earnings test may apply if you are below full retirement age.

For 2026, SSA identifies $24,480 as the annual earnings threshold used for beneficiaries who remain below full retirement age for the entire year. Different rules apply in the year full retirement age is reached.

Once you are at or above full retirement age for the entire year, the retirement earnings test no longer limits benefits because of wages.

Some spouses and children can also receive $255

Monthly survivor benefits are separate from Social Security's $255 lump-sum death payment.

A qualifying surviving spouse may receive this one-time payment. If there is no eligible spouse, certain children may qualify under SSA rules.

SSA states that the lump-sum death payment must generally be applied for within 2 years after the family member's death.

You can discuss the $255 payment when you contact SSA about monthly survivor benefits.

SSA now provides a separate application route for the lump-sum payment

Unlike the monthly survivor-benefit claim described in this procedure, SSA's current website provides a separate application process for the lump-sum death payment.

Do not confuse availability of that separate $255 application with the monthly survivor-benefit process: SSA continues to state that monthly survivor benefits cannot currently be applied for online.

Some spouse benefits convert automatically after a death

SSA states that if a person is already receiving spouse benefits on the deceased worker's record, SSA generally converts those benefits to survivor benefits automatically after the death is processed.

Even in that situation, SSA advises the survivor to call about the separate $255 lump-sum death payment.

If you receive another type of Social Security benefit, do not assume conversion will occur automatically. Contact SSA to determine whether a survivor application is required and which benefit is most advantageous.

Beneficiaries must report changes that can affect payments

After approval, SSA requires beneficiaries to report certain changes so payments remain correct.

Depending on the beneficiary, reportable changes can include:

• name, address, telephone number or direct-deposit information;
• marital status;
• citizenship or immigration status;
• incarceration;
• a child's school attendance;
• custody changes involving a child who receives benefits; and
• work and earnings before full retirement age.

Report relevant changes promptly to reduce the risk of an overpayment or interruption in benefits.

Avoid delays and missed benefit opportunities

• Assuming benefits start automatically: most survivors need to apply even if the death has already been reported.
• Trying to apply for monthly survivor benefits online: SSA currently requires applicants to call or work with a Social Security office.
• Waiting until every document is available: SSA specifically advises applicants not to delay filing for that reason.
• Forgetting former spouses: a surviving divorced spouse may qualify independently under Social Security rules.
• Assuming only minor children qualify: students ages 18 through 19 and adults whose qualifying disability began before age 22 may also qualify.
• Missing the separate $255 payment: eligible spouses or children generally must apply within 2 years of the death.
• Assuming survivor and retirement benefits are added together: SSA applies coordination rules and generally pays the better available benefit rather than simply adding both.
• Failing to report later changes: marriage, earnings, school attendance and other events can affect continuing entitlement.

Contact SSA and protect the earliest possible filing date

If you believe you or a child may qualify, contact Social Security promptly at 1-800-772-1213 or through a local SSA office.

Have the deceased worker's Social Security number available if possible and tell the representative about every family member who might qualify.

Do not postpone the first contact because you are uncertain about eligibility or are missing documents. SSA can determine which survivor rules apply and tell you exactly what evidence is needed for the claim.