Benefits are payable only if the deceased was insured for survivors insurance protection.
Coverage credits under the social security systems of certain foreign countries with which the U.S. has reciprocal agreements may be taken into account to meet the requirements. All survivors benefits, other than for beneficiaries at full-benefit retirement age or older, are subject to an earnings test. A person at and above FRA will not have Social Security benefits reduced because of earnings. Except for benefits to children and dependent parents, all survivors benefits are subject to a pension offset if the person is also receiving a governmental pension based on his or her own work in non-covered employment. The amount of the public pension used for purposes of the offset against Social Security survivor's benefits is equal to two- thirds of the public pension.