Benefits Planner: Survivors | Planning For Your Survivors 
As you plan for the future , you'll want to think about what your family would need if you should die now. Social Security can help your family if you have earned enough Social Security credits through your work. You can earn up to four credits each year. In 2019 , for example , you earn one credit for each $1,360 of wages or self - employment income. When you have earned $5,440 , you have earned your four credits for the year. The number of credits needed to provide benefits for your survivors depends on your age when you die. No one needs more than 40 credits 10 years of work to be eligible for any Social Security benefit. But , the younger a person is , the fewer credits they must have for family members to receive survivors benefits. Benefits can be paid to your children and your spouse who is caring for the children even if you don't have the required number of credits. They can get benefits if you have credit for one and one - half years of work 6 credits in the three years just before your death. 

For Your Widow Or Widower 
There are about five million widows and widowers receiving monthly Social Security benefits based on their deceased spouse's earnings record. And , for many of those survivors, particularly aged women, those benefits are keeping them out of poverty. Widows and widowers can receive : reduced benefits as early as age 60 or full benefits at full retirement age or older. benefits as early as age 50 if they're disabled AND their disability started before or within seven years of your death. benefits at any age , if they have not remarried , and if they take care of your child who is under age 16 or disabled and receives benefits on your record. If applying for disability benefits on a deceased worker s record , they can speed up the application process if they complete an Adult Disability Report and have it available at the time of their appointment. We use the same definition of dis

user: can you tell me about planning for social security benefits for my survivors?

assistant: Are you currently planning for their future?

user: Not right now.

user: But just to know, what if I left a surviving divorced spouse?

assistant: If your marriage lasted for at least 10 years, then they could receive the same benefits as your widow or widower.

user: and, would social security actually help my family if I die?

assistant: Yes, if you earn enough social security credits then Social Security would help your survivors with the benefits you earn while working.

user: Could my widow apply for disability benefits after my death?

assistant: She would need to contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 . The process could get faster if she completes an Adult Disability Report before her appointment.

user: Please, tell me about the benefits she could get and at what age?

assistant: your widow could get reduced benefits as early as age 60 or full benefits at full retirement age. If she suffers from a disability, she could get the benefits as soon as she turns 50 if the disability started before your death or up to 7 years after your death.

user: What is the maximum amount my family can get from Social Security?

assistant: It varies, but there's a limit that's generally between 150 and 180 percent of the basic benefit rate.