Q & A
How do I check the status of a pending application for survivor benefits?
Answer: If you applied for benefits, you can check the Status of Your Application online.
Your application status shows:
- The date we received your application;
- Any requests for additional documents;
- The address of the office processing your application; and
- If a decision has been made.
If you are unable to check your status online, you can
- Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; or
- Contact your local Social Security office.
Source: Social Security
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I applied for survivor benefits July 13. Was told how much I would get monthly and on what day you f the month it would come and the date I would receive my first check. I am still waiting, while my bills don’t. They still keep coming in. I have no clue income and no money for my bills and property taxes, and car insurance. I am running out family and places to borrow money from. And it’s a fat chance of getting in touch with the person who helped you with your application and information. When you call you don’t get to talk to anyone, it rings and the recording comes on telling you, due the high demand of calls your wait could be as long as 15 min to speak with one of our agents or representative. This is not right, you have caused my stress level to go through the roof. But why should you care, you have your income, and home, and sanity. You are doing well while we are at the mercy of God.
Bonnie,
We’re very sorry for your situation, but this website is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration (SSA). This website (www.SocialSecurityReport.org) is independently owned and operated by The AMAC Foundation, a non-profit affiliate of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). We have no authority with respect to how or when your Social Security benefits will start flowing to your bank account, but can only tell you that the SSA typically takes a couple of months to process your application before benefits actually start. Also, Social Security benefits are paid “in arrears,” which means that benefits are paid in the month following the month they are earned. That means, for example, that your August benefits wouldn’t be paid until September. The exact date of your payment depends upon the day of the month you were born; if you were born between the 1st and 10th of the month, your payment will be made on the second Wednesday; if you were born between the 11th and 20th of the month, your payment will be received on the third Wednesday; and if you were born after the 20th of the month, your SS payment will be received on the fourth Wednesday.
We know that it is difficult to contact the SSA by phone, but rest assured that you will get all the benefits you are entitled to based upon when you applied. We hope that your financial situation will improve shortly, but here at The AMAC Foundation we cannot assist you with internal SSA issues which are beyond the scope of our abilities.
Russell Gloor
National Social Security Advisor
The AMAC Foundation
I have been waiting for a reply for a year n half an I have to move out and I just lost my mom dad cause of cancer now I got it good luck to all n God bless
I’m one of the lucky ones that my husband passed in 2015, and when I talked to the lady @SS Office about getting my husband’s benefits like everyone I know has for years, she told me it’s NEVER been that way . WOW!
Paula,
As a surviving spouse when you turn 60 (50 if disabled) you become eligible for a survivor benefit on your spouse’s record. You have a couple options available to you when you apply. If you have reached age 62 and have not applied for any benefits yet, you have the option to apply for either your own retirement benefit or your survivor benefit. You would want to know the amount of each benefit when making this decision. If your own benefit will be higher than your survivor benefit at age 70, you may want to restrict your application to your survivor benefit only, while allowing your own benefit to continue to grow up to the age of 70, or until such time it will result in a higher benefit. If your survivor benefit will always be the highest, you may want to consider taking your own retirement benefit early at a reduced rate while delaying the taking of your survivor benefit until your full retirement age (FRA) to receive 100% of your deceased spouse’s benefit at their time of death.
These rules did not change as a result of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. Survivor benefits are often confused with spousal benefits and when you speak to Social Security you have to make sure you are asking for the correct benefit or they may tell you that you do not qualify. If you have not started any benefits yet, you should contact your local Social Security office and ask them what your own retirement benefit would be at age 70 and what your survivor benefit would be at your FRA. This will give you the information you need to make an informative decision to receive your maximum Social Security benefits.
If you start any benefits before your FRA and you are still working, you will be subject to an earnings limit. For 2021 the limit is $18.960 annually or $1,580 per month.
Sharon Kleczka RSSA
National Social Security Advisor/Registered Social Security Analyst
The AMAC Foundation
I just don’t have the words to say how disappointed I am and our system when you lose a loved one that’s bad enough but then when you can’t get your survivor benefits to survive on I just don’t have the words to say it’s ridiculous
This is a shame that people have to wait for their survivor benefits when they need them the most to survive I wish someone could do something about this so no one else has to go through what I have been through
Sad we loose our love ones and sad to wait on a bunch of lies that was literally a lot of people who has disability and need to get it now
Dear sir , I am interested in finding out the status of my spousal support claim, filed in November 2020. Thank you
Sir we have applied in June 2020 for survivor benefit but yet cannot receive any update
Waheed,
Please accept my condolences for your loss. I am sorry you are experiencing a delay in receiving your survivor benefits in your time of need. Once your application is finally processed you will receive all benefits due you from June 2020, the month you applied. We are not affiliated with Social Security and therefore unable to check on why your application has been delayed.
I recommend you contact your local Social Security office to ask what is delaying the receipt of your survivor benefits. Please use the following link to locate the local phone number: https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp
All offices are still closed but they are taking phone calls.
Sharon L Kleczka
AMAC Foundation
(888)750-2622
Thank you so much, I am really disappointed how they can do this to me I need the benefits so bad cuz I have no income whatsoever coming in I appreciate everything that you can do for me sincerely Carol Dotson