Can You Collect Your Parent’s Social Security When They Die?

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When a parent dies, families often face both emotional grief and financial uncertainty. Many people wonder if they can collect their deceased parent’s Social Security benefits to help with immediate expenses or ongoing needs. In most cases, children cannot simply take over a parent’s monthly benefit.

However, survivor benefits may be available if you are under age 18 — or up to 19 while still in high school — or if you’re an adult child with a qualifying disability. In these cases, you could receive up to 75% of your parent’s full benefit amount. Understanding the rules for survivor benefits is key to knowing whether you qualify.

Understanding Social Security Survivor Benefits

Social Security survivor benefits are monthly payments made to eligible family members after a worker who paid into the system passes away. They’re funded by the deceased parent’s Social Security contributions during their lifetime, even if the surviving spouse or children never paid into Social Security themselves.

Unlike inheriting retirement payments, survivor benefits are specifically designed to provide ongoing financial support for family members who relied on the deceased for income.

Who Can Receive a Deceased Parent’s Social Security?

You may qualify for survivor benefits after a parent’s death if you meet certain criteria, including:

• Being unmarried and under 18 (or up to 19 if still enrolled in high school)
• Having a qualifying disability at any age, provided the disability began before age 22
• Being a stepchild, adopted child, or grandchild who was financially dependent on the parent, in some cases

How Much Can You Receive in Survivor Benefits?

The typical survivor benefit equals about 75% of the deceased parent’s full Social Security benefit. For example, if your parent qualified for $1,000 a month, you could receive around $750.

The exact amount depends on your parent’s work record, including how many years they worked and how much they paid into Social Security taxes.

It’s also important to know that family maximum limits apply. If multiple survivors — such as siblings or a surviving spouse — are collecting benefits from the same record, the total amount paid to the family is usually capped at 150% to 180% of the deceased parent’s benefit. In those cases, individual benefits may be reduced proportionally to stay within the limit.

Applying for Survivor Benefits After a Parent’s Death

To apply for survivor benefits, you’ll need to work directly with the Social Security Administration (SSA). You can start the process by calling the SSA to schedule an appointment.

Be prepared to provide certain documents and information, including:

• Your birth certificate
• Your parent’s death certificate
• Social Security numbers for both you and your parent

After you’ve submitted your application, you can track its status through the SSA. Because processing may take time, it’s best to file for survivor benefits as soon as possible after your parent’s death. You should also notify the SSA promptly so that any benefits your parent was receiving can be properly stopped.

Survivor Benefits for Adult Children

Adults typically don’t qualify for survivor’s benefits unless they were disabled before the age of 22. Survivor benefits typically end when the child turns 18, or 19 if they’re still in high school.

Survivor benefits end once a child ages out of eligibility, and they cannot be reinstated after that point.

Who Else Can Qualify for Survivor Benefits

Children aren’t the only family members who may qualify for survivor benefits. Others who may be eligible include:

• Surviving spouses age 60 or older, or as early as 50 if they have a qualifying disability
• Divorced spouses in certain circumstances
• Dependent parents of the deceased

It’s worth noting that payments to ex-spouses do not reduce the family’s maximum benefit. In addition, under the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, you may still qualify for survivor benefits even if you also receive a government pension.

What Happens to a Parent’s Social Security Check After Death?

Social Security payments stop the month a person dies. The check for the month of death, as well as any payments issued afterward, must be returned to the Social Security Administration (SSA). For example, if your parent passes away in July, the benefit paid in August (covering July) will need to be sent back.

It’s important to notify the SSA as soon as possible so payments can be halted and any survivor benefits can be processed quickly. In many cases, the funeral home will report the death if you provide your parent’s Social Security number, but you should confirm directly with the SSA to avoid overpayments or delays.

Final Take: Applying for Survivor Benefits

If your parent passes away, you may be eligible for Social Security survivor benefits. Eligibility isn’t guaranteed — it depends on factors like age, marital status, and disability — so it’s important to know the rules and whether you qualify.

Benefits are not automatic. You must apply through the Social Security Administration, and the sooner you start, the better. Promptly reporting your parent’s death ensures their payments are stopped and helps begin the survivor benefits process without delays.

Gathering the required documents, such as birth and death certificates and Social Security numbers, before you apply can make the process smoother during what is already a difficult time.

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