Who Can Get Survivors Benefits?

When you die, Social Security survivors benefits can be paid to your:

widow or widower—full benefits at 65 or older (if born before 1938) or reduced benefits as early as age 60. (The age for receiving full benefits gradually increases for persons born after 1937 until it reaches age 67 for persons born in 1960 and later. Details on the "full benefit" age increase.)

disabled widow or widower can get benefits at age 50-60.

widow or widower at any age if she or he takes care of your child under 16 or disabled who get benefits;
unmarried children
under 18 or

up to age 19 if they are attending elementary or secondary school full time.

Your child can get benefits at any age if he or she was disabled before age 22 and remained disabled.

Under certain circumstances, benefits also can be paid to your stepchildren, grandchildren, or adopted children; or
dependent parents at age 62 or older.

How To Apply

You can apply by calling Social Security's toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213. Representatives there can make an appointment for your application to be taken over the telephone or at any convenient Social Security office.

People who are deaf or hard of hearing may the toll-free "TTY" number, 1-800-325-0778, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

Source: Maryland Legal Assistance Network (MLAN)

Last date of legal review March 2007 (MLAN/gg)

Is this legal advice? This site offers legal information, not legal advice. We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information and to clearly explain your options. However we do not provide legal advice - the application of the law to your individual circumstances. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney. See our section on Finding Legal Help.

About this website. The Maryland State Law Library, a court-related agency of the Maryland Judiciary, sponsors this site. The website was developed (1999-2007) as part of an access to justice initiative by the Maryland Legal Assistance Network (MLAN) in collaboration with a number of legal services providers serving low and moderate income Marylanders. In the absence of file-specific attribution or copyright, the Maryland State Law Library may hold the copyright to parts of this website. You are free to copy the information for your own use or for other non-commercial purposes with the following language “Source: Maryland's People’s Law Library – www.peoples-law.org. © Maryland State Law Library, 2007.”

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