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Survivor benefits

Survivor benefits provide monthly payments to eligible family members of people who worked and paid Social Security taxes before they died.

Who can get Survivor benefits

You may qualify if you’re the spouse, divorced spouse, child, or dependent parent of someone who worked and paid Social Security taxes before they died.

See if you're eligible for Survivor benefits

What you could get

You could get a monthly payment and may be eligible for Medicare based on the work history of the family member who died.

See what you could get from Survivor benefits

What to report if you get Survivor benefits

Once you’re approved for Survivor benefits, you must report changes to your work, income, and personal information.

Learn what to report

When to report a death

A funeral home will usually tell us when someone dies, so you may not need to report a death to us. 

Learn when to tell us someone died