To
replace part of the earnings lost to dependents because of the worker's
death.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Direct Payments for Specified Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition
Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Monthly
cash benefits are paid to eligible family members of deceased workers.
There are no restrictions on the use of benefits, although the right
to future benefits is not transferable or assignable. The Federal
government gives the States funds, in advance or by way of reimbursement,
for necessary costs in making disability determinations under 20
CFR part 404 subparts P and Q. Necessary costs are direct as well
as indirect costs as defined in 41 CFR Part 1-15, Subpart 1-15.7
of the Federal Procurement Regulations System for costs incurred
before April 1, 1984; and 48 CFR 31, Subpart 31.6 of the Federal
Acquisition Regulations System and Federal Management Circular A-74-4
as amended or superseded for costs incurred after March 31, 1984.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Benefits are payable only if the
deceased was insured for survivors insurance protection. Coverage
credits under the social security systems of certain foreign countries
with which the U.S. has reciprocal agreements may be taken into
account to meet the requirements. Survivors eligible for monthly
cash benefits are the following: widows or widowers age 60 or over;
surviving divorced spouses age 60 or over (married to the deceased
worker for at least 10 years); disabled widows, widowers or surviving
divorced spouses ages 50- 59; widows, widowers, or surviving divorced
spouses at any age who have in their care a child under age 16 or
disabled and entitled to benefits on the deceased worker's Social
Security record; unmarried children under age 18, under age 19 and
a full time student in elementary or secondary school; or age 18
or older and under a disability which began before age 22; and dependent
parents age 62 and over. All survivors benefits, other than for
beneficiaries at full retirement age (FRA) or older, are subject
to an earnings test. Beginning with the year 2000, the retirement
earnings test was eliminated beginning with the month in which the
beneficiary reaches FRA. A person at and above FRA will not have
Social Security benefits reduced because of earnings. In the calendar
year in which a beneficiary reaches FRA, benefits are reduced $1
for every $3 of earnings above the limit allowed by law, $30,000
in 2002, but this reduction is applied only to months prior to attainment
of FRA. For years before the year the beneficiary attains FRA, the
reduction in benefits is $1 for every $2 of earnings over the annual
exempt amount, $11,280 in 2002. Except for benefits to children
and dependent parents, all survivors benefits are subject to a pension
offset if the person is also receiving a governmental pension based
on his or her own work in non-covered employment. However, the offset
does not apply: (1) If the person receives, or is eligible to receive,
the pension before December 1, 1982, and can meet the requirements
for the Social Security auxiliary's benefit as they existed in January
1977; or (2) if the person receives, or is eligible to receive,
the pension before July 1, 1983, and the person was dependent on
his or her spouse for at least one-half support at the time the
spouse died, became disabled or became entitled to Social Security
benefits. The amount of the public pension used for purposes of
the offset against Social Security survivor's benefits is equal
to two-thirds of the public pension. Benefits for widows/widowers
and surviving divorced spouses are also offset dollar for dollar
by any Social Security benefit the surviving spouse receives based
on his or her own work. Under certain conditions, a lump-sum death
payment of $255 is payable to the widow or children of the deceased
worker. Further, no benefit can be paid to an alien in the United
States unless he is lawfully present in the United States.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Widows, widowers, and surviving
divorced spouses age 60 or over are entitled as long as the worker
met the insurance requirements. Widows, widowers, and surviving
divorced spouses also qualify at any age if they have entitled
children of the worker under age 16 or disabled children in their
care; unmarried children: under age 18, under age 19 and a full-time
student in elementary or secondary school or age 18 or older and
under a disability which began before age 22; and dependent parents
age 62 and over. To claim benefits as disabled widows, widowers,
or surviving divorced spouses, individuals ages 50-59 must show
that they have a disability that started no later than 7 years
after the insured died or 7 years after certain other events.
"Disability" currently has the same meaning for these entitlements
as it does for workers who claim disability insurance (see 96.001).
As in worker disability claims, there is also a 5-month waiting
period after the disability began before benefits begin and entitlement
to Medicare after 24 months of entitlement to benefits. Children
of the worker claiming benefits because of disability are also
subject to the definition of disability used for workers and must
show that they have been disabled since before they reached age
22. There is no waiting period for these benefits.
Credentials/Documentation:
Social Security number, proof of death, age, and relationship.
For certain auxiliaries, proof of support may be required.
Pre-application
Coordination: None. This program is excluded
from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: Call toll free at 1-800-772-1213
or telephone or visit the local Social Security Office.
Award
Procedure: After review of the application
is completed, the applicant (or representative payee) will be
notified by mail.
Deadlines:
Retroactivity is limited to 6 months if unreduced benefits are
being awarded. Other than a minor exception that permits one-month
retroactivity if the widow(er) files for benefits in the month
after the month of the worker's death, no retroactivity is provided
in most cases when reduced benefits are being awarded. For disabled
surviving spouses and disabled surviving divorced spouses, benefits
may be retroactive for up to 12 months.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable.
Appeals:
Call toll free at 1-800-772-1213 or telephone or visit the local
Social Security office. The appeal process can range from a case
review to a review by the Federal courts. An appeal must be requested
in writing within 60 days of the date on which a written notice
of SSA's decision is received by the applicant. The 60 days start,
the day after you receive the notice.
Renewals:
Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: This program has
no statutory formula or matching requirements.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Not applicable.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Any change in address or in eligibility requirements (such as work
status, marital or family status, or school attendance) must be
reported to Social Security when it occurs.
Audits:
None.
Records:
None.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 20-8006-0-7-651.
Obligations:
(Benefit Payments) These figures represent benefits actually paid,
or expected to be paid. FY 01 $60,212,000,000; FY 02 est $62,149,000,000;
and FY 03 est $63,955,000,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
Monthly cash benefits range up to $1,660 for the widow or widower
of a worker who dies at age 65 in January 2002. As of December
31, 2001, the average benefit paid to an aged widow or widower
alone was $841, and the average amount paid to a widowed
mother or father with two or more eligible children was $1,712.
In fiscal year 2001, an average of 6,960,000 survivors received
monthly cash benefits, and in fiscal year 2002, it is estimated
that the number will be 6,930,000. For fiscal year 2003, it is estimated
that an average of 6,925,000 survivors will receive monthly cash
benefits.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 20, Parts 401, 404, 422. "Your
Social Security," and other publications are available from any
Social Security office without charge. The Social Security internet
address is www.ssa.gov and it includes copies of all disability-related
laws, regulations, rulings, and free publications, as well as other
information about Social Security programs.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: Consult Appendix IV of the
Catalog.
Headquarters
Office: Office of Public Inquiries, Room 4100,
Annex, Social Security Administration, Baltimore, MD 21235. Telephone:
(410) 965-2736. Use the same number for FTS.
