Claim Your Social Security Survivor Benefits in 2025: Millions Don’t Know They’re Eligible, Are You?

By: Omprakash

On: Friday, August 8, 2025 8:43 AM

Google News
Follow Us

Every month, the Social Security Administration provides benefits to tens of millions of Americans who are at risk.  The SSA provides benefits to a variety of beneficiaries, including survivors, retirees, and people with disabilities.  As a result, the requirements for eligibility and the computation techniques will probably vary depending on the beneficiary type. 

Also Read
It’s No Longer 65 or 67: Here’s the New Social Security Retirement Age for 2025
It’s No Longer 65 or 67: Here’s the New Social Security Retirement Age for 2025

Benefits for survivors and retirees or those with ill health are a little different.  This is so that a surviving family member or reliant on of a person who operated and paid into Social Security payroll taxes before their death might get survivor welfares.  However, the person who operated and paid into Social Security payroll taxes receives the aids of retirement or disability.

Claim Your Social Security Survivor Benefits

Although losing a family member can be difficult emotionally, the household may also experience financial hardship if the deceased person was also the primary provider for the family.  The purpose of Social Security Survivor payments is to provide surviving dependents, such spouses or children, with financial support. For a prospective recipient to be eligible for Social Security payments, they must have already paid into the program through a certain payroll tax.  Work credits will be earned by the individual through employment and payroll tax contributions to Social Security.

Also Read
Social Security’s New Policy Could Hit Hard Millions: Find Out If You’re One of Them
Social Security’s New Policy Could Hit Hard Millions: Find Out If You’re One of Them

A worker can only accrue a maximum of four work credits annually, and in order to start receiving benefits after becoming eligible, they must acquire a minimum of forty work credits.  A worker contributes 12.4% of their wages to Social Security payroll taxes; however, the employer pays the remaining 6.2% and the worker contributes 6.2%.  Each $1,810 in covered earnings in 2025 entitles you to one Social Security and Medicare credit.  The SSA states that in order to receive the supreme 4 credits for the year, $7,240 must be received in total.  Therefore, for surviving dependents to be eligible for Survivor payments, the deceased must have accrued enough labor credits while they were employed.

Social Security Survivor Benefits – Overview

Post NameHow to Claim Your Social Security Survivor Benefits in 2025? Millions Don’t Know They’re Eligible, Are You?
CountryUSA
DepartmentSocial Security Administration
Payment FrequencyMonthly
BeneficiariesEligible spouses, dependent children, and parents
Year2024
CategoryGovernment Aid
Official Portalssa.gov

Who Can Be the Survivor Benefits Recipient?

Spouses and ex-spouses, you might be qualified uncertainty you:

Also Read
Social Security Announces July 2025 Payment Dates: When Will Your SSA Check Arrive this Month?
Social Security Announces July 2025 Payment Dates: When Will Your SSA Check Arrive this Month?
  • age 60 or elder, or age 50–59 if you have an ill health, and
  • Were wed for minimum 9 months earlier your spouse’s death, and
  • Didn’t marry again earlier age 60 (age 50 if you have a ill health).

Children of somebody who died may be qualified if they’re single and are:

Also Read
Goodbye to Full Social Security at 65: US Government has now Raised the Retirement Age
Goodbye to Full Social Security at 65: US Government has now Raised the Retirement Age
  • Age 17 and younger, or
  • Ages 18–19 and in school (K–12) full time, or
  • Any age if they advanced a ill health at age 21 or younger.
Claim Your Social Security Survivor Benefits in 2025

Security Survivor Benefits Amount

As of June 2024, there were about 5.8 million persons receiving survivor benefits. The benefit was $1,507.76 each month on average, or $18,093.12 per year.  There are five unlike types of survivor benefits.  In June 2024, the average payouts were:

Also Read
$5,108 Social Security Payment July 2025: Know Eligibility & Payout Dates
$5,108 Social Security Payment July 2025: Know Eligibility & Payout Dates
  1. Children of workers who have died: $1,105.32 per month ($13,263.84 per year).
  2. Fathers and mothers who are widowed: $1,279.53 per month ($15,354.36 per year). Disabled widows and widowers: $1,784.09 per month ($21,409.08 per year).
  3. Disabled widows and widowers: $927.89 per month ($11,134.68 per year).
  4. Parents of workers who have passed away: $1,618.45 per month ($19,421.40 per year).

How to Apply for Social Security Survivor Benefits?

Social Security survivor payments are paid to qualifying workers’ dependents, widows, and widowers.  Families should take advantage of these advantages, particularly those with little children.  Benefits for survivors are calculated using the worker’s earnings.  As soon as possible following your loved one’s death, you should notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) so that you can apply for survivor’s benefits. 

If the funeral home has the deceased person’s Social Security number, they can typically record the death to the SSA, even though it is not possible to file for benefits or report a death online.  The SSA can be reached by phone from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to report a death or apply for benefits. 

Additionally, you can use SSA’s Office to get the phone digit for your local Social Security workplace.  It is crucial to apply for survivor’s benefits as soon as possible if you are not currently receiving them, since in some situations, retroactive benefits could not be available.  In most circumstances, you won’t need to submit a new application for survivor’s aids if you are already receiving benefits via your parent’s or spouse’s record.  Following receipt of the death report, the SSA will automatically convert your benefits to survivor’s benefits. A Special Lump-Sum Death Payment might also be made automatically by them.

Required Documents to Apply for Survivor Benefit

The following documents are required to apply for the survivor benefits:

  1. Birth record and other birth evidence.
  2. Evidence of the worker’s death.
  3. Marriage record
  4. If you’re applying as a surviving divorced other half, then you have to submit a last divorce and married certificate.
  5. US military issue documents if you were in services earlier 1968.
  6. Proof of U.S. residency and lawful rank.
  7. Tax return for last year.
  8. For disability aids submit (SSA-3368 and SSA-827) forms which will define your medical illness.
Official WebsiteClick Here
HomepageMoyle-Council.org

FAQs

How to apply for survivor benefits?

Visit the SSA’s official portal to apply for the benefit and submit supporting documents.

What is the minimum survivor benefits?

The benefit was $1,507.76 each month on average, or $18,093.12 per year.

Who qualifies for the social security survivor benefits?

Those who will be able to fulfill the social security survivor benefits eligibility criteria in 2025 willqualify for the monthly benefits.

For Feedback - [email protected]

Leave a Comment