Latest News
Understanding Survivor Benefits
The death of a spouse is generally a traumatic event in a couple’s life and, in so many instances, causes considerable stress for the survivor left to navigate the financial decisions in the future. While the basic rules governing the deceased’s Social Security benefit payments are pretty straightforward (e.g., benefit payments cease immediately, any future payments must be returned, and generally, payments for the month of the death must also be returned because benefits are not prorated in Social Security) many details need to be understood about benefits available to the surviving spouse and any other dependents.
This relatively complex topic is addressed in a recent MSN.com post by Diego Pérez Morales. His post, titled “The first thing you must do with Social Security when your spouse dies,” covers the eligibility rules for survivors, ex-spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents, as well as the steps to follow to report a beneficiary’s death.
We know this can be a complex subject at a difficult time. If you need personalized assistance, know that the AMAC Foundation’s Social Security Advisory Service is available free of charge. Learn more about this service and how to access it at AmacFoundation.org/Services.