Frequent Topics
Social Security Retirement
You can start your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62 or as late as age 70. Your monthly benefit amount will be different depending on the age you start receiving it. If you choose to: Read more
Social Security Survivors
When a person who has worked and paid Social Security taxes dies, certain members of the family may be eligible for survivors benefits. Up to ten years of work is needed to be eligible for benefits, depending on the person's age at the time of death. Read more
Social Security Disability
The Social Security disability insurance program (sometimes referred to as SSDI) pays benefits to you and certain family members if you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. Read more
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources. SSI benefits also are payable to people 65 and older without disabilities who meet the financial limits. Read more
Medicare
Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older. Certain people younger than age 65 can qualify for Medicare, too, including those who have disabilities and those who have permanent kidney failure or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Read more
Click here for a
FREE Disability Evaluation.
For Medicare Assistance please call:
+1-877-335-7061Freephone:Social Security Survivors
When a person who has worked and paid Social Security taxes dies,
certain members of the family may be eligible for survivors
benefits.
Up to ten years of work is needed to be eligible for benefits,
depending on the person's age at the time of death.
Who is eligible for survivors benefits
Social Security survivors benefits can be paid to:
* A widow or widower -- full benefits at full
retirement age, or reduced benefits as early as age 60
* A disabled widow or widower -- as early as age
50
* A widow or widower at any age if he or she
takes care of the deceased's child who is under age 16 or
disabled, and receiving Social
Security benefits
* Unmarried children under 18, or up to age 19 if
they are attending high school full time. Under certain
circumstances, benefits can be
paid to stepchildren, grandchildren, or adopted children.
* Children at any age who were disabled before
age 22 and remain disabled.
* Dependent parents age 62 or older
Note: If you are divorced, you may still
qualify for survivors benefits.
You can receive Social Security survivors benefits and work at
the same time. However, depending on your age, your benefits
could be reduced if you earn more than certain amounts.
How divorce affects survivors benefits
If your divorced spouse dies, you can receive benefits
as a widow/widower if the marriage lasted 10 years or longer and
you are age 60 or older (or age 50 if you are disabled.)
Benefits paid to a surviving divorced spouse who is 60 or older
(age 50 if disabled) will not affect the benefit rates for other
survivors receiving benefits.
Note: You do not have to meet the
length-of-marriage rule if you are caring for a child under age
16 or disabled who is getting benefits on the record of your
former spouse. (The child must be your former spouse's natural
or legally adopted child.) However, if you qualify because you
have the worker's child in your care, your benefit will affect
the benefit amounts of others on the worker's record.
How remarriage affects survivors benefits
In general, you cannot receive survivors benefits if
you remarry before the age of 60 unless the latter marriage
ends, whether by death, divorce, or annulment.
If you remarry after age 60 (50 if disabled), you can still
collect benefits on your former spouse's record. When you reach
age 62 or older, you may get retirement benefits on the record
of your new spouse if they are higher.
Your remarriage would have no effect on the benefits being paid
to your children.