Bass & Gasper Funeral Home - Social Security

The following information was obtained and published here as a service of Bass & Gasper Funeral Home from the Social Security Administration.

WHAT TO DO WHEN A BENEFICIARY DIES:

A family member or other person responsible for the beneficiary's affairs should do the following:

Promptly notify Social Security of the beneficiary's death by calling SSA toll-free at 1-800-772-1213.
If monthly benefits were being paid via direct deposit, notify the bank or other financial institution of the beneficiary's death. Request that any funds received for the month of death and later be returned to Social Security as soon as possible.
If benefits were being paid by check, DO NOT CASH any checks received for the month in which the beneficiary died or thereafter. Return the checks to Social Security as soon as possible.

One-time Lump Sum Death Benefit:

A one-time payment of $255 is payable to the surviving spouse if he or she was living with the beneficiary at the time of death, OR if living apart, was receiving Social Security benefits on the beneficiary's earnings record. If there is no surviving spouse, the payment is made to a child who was eligible for benefits on the beneficiary's earnings record in the month of death.

Benefits for Survivors

Monthly survivors benefits can be paid to certain family members, including the beneficiary's widow or widower, dependent children and dependent parents. The following booklets contain more information about filing for benefits and can be downloaded by clicking on the title.

If A Loved One Has Died ... What You Need To Know About Survivors Benefits

How To Apply For Benefits

How you sign up for survivors benefits depends on whether or not you're getting other Social Security benefits.

If You Aren't Getting Social Security Benefits : You should apply for survivors benefits promptly because, in some cases, benefits may not be retroactive. You can apply by telephone or at any Social Security office.

We need certain information to process your application. It's helpful if you have it when you apply. But don't delay applying if you don't have everything. We will help you get it. We need either original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them.

The information needed includes:

proof of death—either from funeral home or death certificate;
your Social Security number, as well as the worker's;
your birth certificate;
your marriage certificate if you're a widow or widower;
your divorce papers if you're applying as a surviving divorced spouse;
dependent children's Social Security numbers, if available;
deceased worker's W-2 forms or federal self-employment tax return for the most recent year; and
the name of your bank and your account number so your benefits can be directly deposited into your account.

If You're Already Getting Social Security Benefits : If you're getting benefits as a wife or husband on your spouse's record when he or she dies, you should report the death to us and we will change your payments to survivors benefits. If we need more information, we'll contact you.

If you're getting benefits on your own record, you'll need to complete an application to get survivors benefits. Call or visit us and we'll check to see if you can get more money as a widow or widower. We'll need to see your spouse's death certificate to process your claim.

Benefits for any children will automatically be changed to survivors benefits after the death is reported to us. We'll contact you if we need more information.

How Much Will You Get?

The amount of your benefit is based on the earnings of the person who died. The more he or she paid into Social Security, the higher your benefits will be.

The amount you will get is a percentage of the deceased's basic Social Security benefit. The percentage depends on your age and the type of benefit you are eligible for. Here are the most typical situations.

widow or widower, age 65 or older—100 percent;
widow or widower age, 60-64—about 71-94 percent;
widow, any age, with a child under age 16—75 percent; or
children—75 percent

Maximum Family Benefits

There is a limit to the amount of money that can be paid to you and other family members each month. The limit varies, but is generally equal to about 150 to 180 percent of the deceased's benefit rate. If the sum of the benefits payable to the family members is greater than this limit, the benefits will be reduced proportionately.

Retirement Benefits For Widow(ers)

If you are receiving widows or widowers (including divorced widows or widowers) benefits, you should remember that you can switch to your own retirement benefit as early as age 62. This assumes you're eligible and your retirement rate is higher than your widow(er) rate. In many cases, a widow(er) can begin receiving one benefit at a reduced rate and then switch to the other benefit at an unreduced rate at age 65. The rules are complicated and vary depending on your situation, so you should talk to a one of our representatives about the options available to you.

What If I Work?

If you get Social Security survivors benefits, the amount of your benefits may be reduced if your earnings exceed certain limits. To find out what the limits are this year and how earnings above those limits reduce your social Security benefits, contact us to request the leaflet, How Work Affects Your Benefits (Publication No. 05-10069). There's no earnings limit once you reach age 70.

Your earnings will reduce only your survivors benefits, not the benefits of other family members.

What If I Remarry?

Generally, you can't get survivors benefits if you remarry. But, remarriage after age 60 (50 if disabled) will not prevent benefit payments on your former spouse's record. And, at age 62 or older, you may get benefits on the record of your new spouse if they are higher.

A Word About Medicare

Medicare is a health insurance plan for people who are age 65 or older. People who are disabled or have kidney failure also can get Medicare.

Medicare has two parts—hospital insurance and medical insurance. Most people have both parts.

Hospital insurance, sometimes called Part A, covers inpatient hospital care and certain follow-up care. The worker already paid for it as part of his or her Social Security taxes while he or she was working.

Medical insurance, sometimes called Part B, pays for physicians' services and some other services not covered by hospital insurance. Medical insurance is optional, and you must pay a premium.

Some people are already getting Social Security benefits when they turn 65, and their Medicare starts automatically. Others must file an application. For more information, call the Health Care Financing Administration at 1-800 MEDICAR(E) and ask for a copy of the handbook, "Medicare and You". You also can visit the website at http://www.medicare.gov.

Help For Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries

If you get Medicare and have low income and few resources, your state may pay your Medicare premiums and, in some cases, other "out-of-pocket" Medicare expenses such as deductibles and coinsurance. Only your state can decide if you qualify. To find out if you do, contact your local welfare office or Medicaid agency. For more information about the program, contact Social Security and ask for a copy of the publication Medicare Savings For Qualified Beneficiaries (HCFA Publication No. 02184).

If you would like more information you may visit the Social Security Administration web site at http://www.ssa.gov or call them at 1-800-772-1213. You may also contact us at Bass & Gasper Funeral Home at 591- 2571 and we will be glad to assist you with any questions you may have.