Are you a survivor of someone who was receiving Social Security benefits? If so, you or another family member may qualify for monthly survivors benefits. As the survivor, if you are the spouse, child or parent of someone who has worked long enough under the Social Security Administration you may qualify to receive certain benefits.
Social Security Death Benefits are paid to widows, widowers, and dependents of a deceased eligible worker. This benefit, meant to assist with a family’s financial burden of losing the lost loved one’s income, is particularly important for young families with children.
Monthly benefit amounts are based on the earnings of the person who died. The more they paid into Social Security, the higher your benefits would be. This amount is a percentage of the deceased’s basic Social Security benefit.
Additionally, a one-time lump-sum death payment of $255 can be paid to the surviving spouse if he or she is living with the deceased; or if living apart, was receiving certain Social Security benefits on the deceased’s record. When there is no surviving spouse, the payment is made to a child who is eligible for benefits.
In most cases, the funeral home will report the person’s death, however, if not, a surviving family member should notify the Social Security Administration as soon as possible following the date of death. Deaths cannot be reported online, and benefits can not be applied for online.
We always attempt to notify Social Security of a death by their electronic process, but errors sometimes happen.
You, the survivor, must also contact SSA directly, and apply, in order to receive any benefits due to you.
To report a death or apply for benefits, or if you have questions about qualifying to receive survivor’s benefits, please try contacting one of our local offices first.
Our Local Offices
Cheshire County
9 Elm Street
Keene, NH 03431
(877) 405-3651
Hillsborough County
175 Amherst Street, Suite 2
Nashua, NH 03064
(877) 444-0134
You may also call the main Social Security office by phone, at
1-800-772-1213.
Additional information is also available online at ssa.gov/benefits/survivors.
Cournoyer Funeral Home & Cremation Center
Phone: (603) 532-6484
33 River Street, PO Box 486, Jaffrey, NH 03452
Funeral Home Office Hours
Our personnel and facilities are immediately available 24 hours a day,
every day of the year.
However, our office is only staffed during the following times
or by special appointment.
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays Closed
Please contact us with any questions, comments, or inquiries,
and we will reply as soon as possible.
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© Cournoyer Funeral Home and Cremation Center. All Rights Reserved.
© Cournoyer Funeral Home and Cremation Center. All Rights Reserved.