The following checklist is designed to help you
file for your Social Security benefits correctly so
that prompt payments may be made.
ELIGIBILITY
The deceased worker must have credit for work covered
by Social Security, ranging from 1 1/2 to 10 years
depending on his or her age at death.
- A widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled),
or at any age if caring for an entitled child who
is under 16 or disabled.
- A divorced widow or widower age 60 or older (50
if disabled) if the marriage lasted 10 years, or
if caring for an entitled child who is under 16
or disabled.
- Unmarried children up to 18 (19 if they are attending
a primary or secondary school full lime).
- Children who were disabled before reaching 22,
as long as they remained disabled.
- Dependent parent or parents 62 or older.
LUMP-SUM DEATH PAYMENT
A one time payment of $255 is paid in addition to
the monthly cash benefits described above. The lump-sum
death payment (LSDP) is paid in the following priority
order:
- A surviving spouse who lived in the same household
as the deceased person at the time of death.
- A surviving spouse eligible for or entitled to
benefits for the month of death.
- A child or children eligible for or entitled to
benefits for the month of death.
APPLYING FOR BENEFITS
You must apply in order to receive benefits. You
may apply at any Social Security office or, if you
wish, you may apply by telephone. Just dial the toll-free
number 1-800-772-1213 and the operator will schedule
an appointment for you or arrange for the local Social
Security office to take your claim by telephone.
SOCIAL SECURITY TELESERVICE - DOING
BUSINESS BY TELEPHONE
You may call Social Security toll-free, 365 days
a year, 24 hours a day. The number to use is 1-800-772-1213
or 701-239-5607. To speak with a representative, call
between the hours of 7:00am and 7:00pm on regular
business days. At other times and on weekends and
holidays, you may leave a message and they will call
you back, in most cases, the next business day.
You may use the toll-free number to make an appointment
either in a Social Security office or telephone to
apply for benefits, transact other Social Security
business, or just ask questions.
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