Social Security

Eligibility:

The deceased worker must have credit for work covered by Social Security, ranging from 1 1/2 to 10 years depending on his or her age at death.

Who May Recieve Monthly Benefits?

If your loved one, the deceased, was receiving benefits then you the next of kin, family member, need to contact the nearest Social Security office and report the death. If you think you may be eligible for survivor benefits, then contact our office immediately.

Social Security benefits help ease the financial burden and responsibility that follows a worker's death. Almost all children under 18 will get monthly benefits if a working parent dies. Other family members MAY be eligible for benefits, too. Anyone who has worked and paid Social Security, FICA, taxes has been earning Social Security benefits for his or her family. The amount of work needed to pay survivors benefits depends on the worker's age at the time of death. It may be as little as 1 to 1.5 years for a young worker. No one needs more than 10 years of work time.

The following family members who USUALLY can get benefits are:

• Widows and Widowers age 60 or older.
• Widows and Widowers at any age if caring for the deceased's children are under 16 or disabled.
• Divorced wives and husbands age 60 or older, if married to the deceased for 10 years or more.
• Widows, Widowers, Divorced wives or husbands age 50 or older, if they are disabled.
• Children up to age 18.
• Children age 18 to 19 if they attend elementary or high school full time.
• Children over age 18, if they become disabled before age 22.
• The deceased worker's parents age 62 or older, if they were being supported by the worker.

Lump-Sum Death Payment

There is a special ONE-TIME payment, in addition to the monthly benefits, for family members, of $255 dollars which can be paid to a spouse WHO WAS LIVING with the worker at the time of death. If there is none, it can be paid to:

• A spouse who is eligible for benefits.
• A child or children eligible for benefits.
• This payment cannot be made if there is no eligible spouse or child.

Applying for Benefits

You can apply for these benefits by calling 1-800-772-1213, from 7AM to 7PM weekdays. Ask for the number for the Quincy Office when you first call the 800 number.

You may need some of the documents shown on the list below. But don't delay your application because of not having all of the information. The Social Security office can help you obtain some of it. The information need includes, but is not limited by:

• Your Social Security number and the deceased social security number.
• A death certificate. (Generally, the funeral director provides a statement that can be used for this purpose.)
• Proof of the deceased worker's earnings for the last year (W-2 forms or self-employment tax return)
• Your birth certificate.
• The worker's birth certificate
• A marriage certificate, if you are applying for benefits as a WIDOW, widower, divorced wife, or divorced husband.
• Your checking or savings account information, if you want direct deposit of your benefits.
• You will need to submit original documents or copies certified by the issuing office.
• BRING THEM INTO THE QUINCY SOCIAL SECURITY office, they will make copies of them and return your original documents to you.

Note: If you are 65 or older, disabled, or blind, ask the Social Security representative about Supplemental Security Income, (SSI) checks for people with limited income and resources. If you receive SSI, you may also qualify for Medicaid, food stamps, and other social services.

If you don't find the information you are looking for, or would like more specific information on a topic, you can order a booklet from the government at this web site: www.ssa.gov.

Social Security Teleservice - Doing Business By Telephone

You may call Social Security toll-free, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. The number to use is 1-800-772-1213. To speak with a representative, call between the hours of 7:00am and 7:00pm on regular business days. At other times and on weekends and holidays, you may leave a message and they will call you back, in most cases, the next business day.

You may use the toll-free number to make an appointment either in a Social Security office or telephone to apply for benefits, transact other Social Security business, or just ask questions.

Naval Sea Burial Instructions

Click here for information on Naval Honors Sea Burial

What to do about Social Security after a death occurs
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/deathbenefits.htm
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices/