Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Survivor Benefits are monthly payments to eligible relatives when a worker who paid into Social Security dies. These benefits help replace part of the income lost by the worker’s death.
Who Qualifies: Eligible Relatives & Conditions
Here are the categories of people who may qualify, and the key conditions they must meet:
| Relative Type | Age / Status Requirements | Other Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving Spouse | • Age 60 or older; or age 50–59 if disabled. • Any age if caring for a deceased worker’s child who is under 16 or disabled. | • Must have been married for at least 9 months before worker’s death. • Cannot have remarried before age 60 (or 50 if disabled). |
| Divorced Spouse | Same age rules as surviving spouse. | Marriage lasted at least 10 years. Same caregiving waiver applies. Must not have remarried before threshold age. |
| Children | • Unmarried children < 18 (or < 19 if in full-time high school). • Any age if they became disabled before age 22. | Includes adopted children, stepchildren under some conditions. Step-grandchildren, grandchildren may qualify if certain legal relationships exist. |
| Dependent Parents | Parent must be 62 or older. | The deceased must have provided more than half of the parent’s financial support. |
Work Credits: How Many Are Needed from the Deceased
- To qualify for survivor benefits, the deceased worker must have earned sufficient work credits. The exact number depends on their age at death.
- A maximum of 10 years of work usually gives you the full credit requirement (40 credits). Younger workers need fewer credits.
How Much Are the Benefits: Amount & Limits
- Benefit amounts depend on the deceased worker’s Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) — their lifetime earnings.
- Typical survivor benefit rates:
- Surviving spouse at full retirement age: 100% of the worker’s PIA.
- Spouse age 60 to full retirement age: roughly 71% to 99%.
- Spouse with a disability, aged 50-59: same lower range (≈ 71.5%) in many cases.
- Spouse of any age caring for child under 16 (or disabled child): about 75%.
- Children: also about 75%, until age limit or if disabled.
- Dependent parents: if one qualifies, up to 82.5% of worker’s benefit; if two qualify, each may get 75%.
- Family maximum: There is a cap on total survivor payments on a single worker’s record — usually between 150% and 180% of the worker’s benefit. If many family members qualify, each person’s benefit may be reduced proportionally.
- One-time Lump Sum Death Payment: Survivors (spouse or eligible children) may get a one-time payment of US$255 (apply within 2 years of death).
How & When to Apply
- You cannot simply receive survivor benefits automatically. You must apply.
- Required documents include: proof of death (death certificate), Social Security numbers, birth certificate, marriage or divorce certificates as applicable, records of the deceased’s earnings, etc.
- It’s best to apply as soon as possible, because benefits may be retroactive to the date of death, but there are deadlines (e.g. for the lump sum).
Recent Updates / Key Changes You Should Know
- Full retirement age for survivor benefits depends on birth year: for survivors born 1945-1956, it’s 66, rising gradually up to 67 for those born 1962 or later.
- The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) rules changed under recent legislation (Social Security Fairness Act of 2023). As of January 2024, these reductions no longer apply to many survivors and beneficiaries.
If a loved one who was receiving or qualified for SSDI passes away, several relatives—spouses, divorced spouses, children, dependent parents—may be eligible for SSDI survivor benefits, provided certain age, marriage, disability, and dependency conditions are satisfied.
