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 disability for widows and widowers as we do for workers. 

For Y

user: What could do Social Security for my survivor widow when I die?

assistant: There around 5 million widows and widowers receiving social security benefits based on their deceased spouse earning records.

user: but, how impactful are these benefits for them?

user: At what age can they receive the benefits?

assistant: they can receive reduced benefits as soon as turning 60 or at full retirement age. And if they are disabled, they can receive the benefits as early as age 50.

user: What's the maximum amount that my family members can get?

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

assistant: if the sum of the benefits payable to your family members higher than this limit?

user: yes, it is.

assistant: then these benefits will be reduced proportionally. The benefits received by disabled family members do not count for this limit.

user: is there anything else you can tell me about this?

assistant: You should know that there are limits on how much survivors may earn while they receive the benefits.

user: what if my surviving spouse remarries?

assistant: if your surviving spouse remarries before they turn 60, or 50 if disabled, they can not get the benefits while they are married.