When someone receiving Social Security disability benefits (SSD) passes away, there are two types of benefits that may be paid to survivors. The first is a lump sum death benefit. This is a small, one-time payment of $255. This benefit is paid to the surviving spouse if there is one, and if not to a qualifying child.
The more significant benefits for family members of a deceased SSD recipient are survivor benefits. Survivor benefits may be paid monthly to certain surviving dependents.
Qualifying for Social Security Survivor Benefits
There’s a short list of people who may be entitled to Social Security survivor benefits when a family member who was receiving disability benefits passes away. However, there is one common qualification: to be eligible for survivor benefits, the family member must have been dependent on the SSD recipient for financial support.
Those who may qualify include:
A surviving spouse, but only if:
They are 60 years of age or older, or
They are caring for a child of the deceased SSD recipient who is under the age of 16, or
They are caring for a disabled child of the deceased, regardless of the child’s age, or
They are aged 50 or older and disabled and became disabled while the SSD recipient was alive or within seven years after they passed away
A former spouse, but only if:
The marriage lasted at least 10 years and the former spouse is 60 or older, or
The marriage lasted at least 10 years and the former spouse if 50 or older and disabled, or
The former spouse is caring for a child of the deceased SSD recipient who is under 16, regardless of the length of the marriage
A child of the deceased who is unmarried and:
Under the age of 18, or
Under the age of 19 and two months if they are still in high school full time
Disabled by a condition that began before the child reached age 22
A parent aged 62 or older who depended on the deceased for at least half of their support
How Much Can Dependents Receive in Survivor Benefits
The Social Security Administration (SSA) applies a formula to determine the amount of survivor benefits. For dependents of a deceased SSD recipient, the maximum amount available to the family will be between 100% and 150% of the deceased’s full retirement benefit. How those funds are divided depends on the number and type of dependents who qualify for survivor benefits.
Help for Surviving Dependents of SSD Recipients
If you’ve just lost a loved one, you likely have a lot on your mind. The last thing you need is a struggle to untangle administrative red tape. Whether you’re applying for survivor benefits, have been denied benefits, or believe the amount you’re receiving is too low, Disability Help Group is here for you. To learn more about how we can help your family, call 800) 800-3332 or contact us here today.
What Does It Mean When My SSD Appeal Says “Under Review”?
If your Social Security disability (SSD) application was denied, you may receive an “appeal under review” letter or check the status of your appeal online and see “under review.” Many SSD applicants who aren’t prepared for that possibility are anxious about what it means. Here’s what you need to know about this status.
This Status Is Neutral
It’s common for people in the SSD appeals process to see “under review” as a bad sign. The truth is that learning that this is under review doesn’t tell you anything about the likely outcome. It simply means that some aspect of the tentative decision–whether approval or denial–is being reviewed. It’s best to try not to stress over what it means in your case and wait until you receive a decision on the matter
There are Multiple Levels To Appeals
It’s important to remember that even if your first or second Social Security disability appeal is denied, you still have options. The entire process includes as many of the following as are necessary:
Initial SSD application
Request for Reconsideration
ALJ Hearing
Request for Appeals Council review
Appeal to the federal district court
Each level of review offers opportunities that most SSD applicants don’t take full advantage of. For example, reconsideration is usually just a repeat of the original assessment of your application, but by a different person. Many SSD applicants don’t realize that they can submit additional information, such as updated medical records, with their request for reconsideration.
While many variables go into a Social Security Administration (SSA) decision on these matters, one key factor is how thoroughly you have established your claim. That includes everything from ensuring that your application is complete and accurate to providing the right medical documentation and other supporting evidence.
A Social Security Disability Benefits Advocate Can Help
At Disability Help Group, we know that the SSD application and appeals process can be daunting. We also know valid claims sometimes get denied simply because the applicant made an innocent mistake or didn’t understand what type of documentation was needed. We have been fighting for disabled workers and their families for years, and know what it takes to assemble the strongest application or appeal possible.
When you work with an experienced advocate, you won’t have to worry when you receive a status letter or see an unexpected notation in your online account. Our advocates will explain the process to you every step of the way. Call us today at (800) 800-3332 or contact us here now!
If Someone Getting SSD Dies, Can I Get Their Benefits?
Not exactly. Social Security disability benefits (SSD) are for the disabled worker, and those benefits terminate when the recipient passes away. But that doesn’t necessarily mean dependents are on their own. Here are some benefits that may be available to surviving family members when an SSD recipient passes away.
Social Security Death Benefit
The Social Security Administration (SSA) pays a one-time, lump-sum death benefit when a recipient of either SSD or Social Security retirement benefits passes away. This is a small payment. In 2023, it’s $255. This benefit is payable to the surviving spouse if there is one. If not, the benefit may be paid to a child of the deceased.
Survivor’s Benefits
Some dependents of a deceased SSD recipient can receive survivor’s benefits.
These family members may qualify for benefits on the deceased’s work record:
A surviving spouse aged 60 or older
A surviving spouse of any age who is caring for a child of the deceased who is under the age of 16
A surviving spouse of any age who is caring for a child of the deceased who is disabled
A surviving spouse aged 50 or older who became disabled during the SSD recipient’s life or within seven years of their death.
An unmarried child of the deceased who is under the age of 18, or up to age 19 and two months if they are a full-time student in elementary or secondary school
An adult child with a disability that began before age 22
In some circumstances, others may be able to receive survivor’s benefits.
These include:
A former spouse who was married to the SSD recipient for at least 10 years and who has not remarried or who remarried after age 60
A former spouse who is caring for a child of the deceased who is under the age of 16 or disabled and is receiving child’s benefits, regardless of the length of the marriage
Parents of the deceased who are at least 62 years of age, if they received at least half of their support from the deceased SSD recipient
The amount of survivor’s benefits that a family member receives will depend on both the deceased’s work record and the number of family members receiving benefits.
An Experienced Disability Benefits Attorney Can Help
Applying for Social Security survivor benefits can be complicated. If you’ve been denied survivor benefits, don’t believe you are receiving the right amount, or just aren’t sure how to find out whether you qualify, we’re here to help. Call us today at (800) 800-3332 or fill out our contact us here now for a FREE consultation.
You’ve probably heard that it can be difficult to get Social Security disability benefits (SSD). Most SSD applications are denied in the first round, and it can take two years or more to get through the appeals process and secure benefits. What many people don’t know is that the chances of approval increase as you age. That’s especially true once you turn 60.
There are two ways to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. The first is to demonstrate that you meet or equal one of the medical conditions listed in the Social Security Blue Book. Simply having a listed condition isn’t sufficient to qualify for SSD. You must meet specific criteria the Social Security Administration (SSA) sets forth to ensure that your condition is truly disabling. The specific criteria are different depending on the condition.
If you don’t meet or equal a listed condition, you may still qualify for Social Security disability benefits if the SSA determines that you are unable to engage in substantial gainful activity. That begins with a look at your past relevant work. If the SSA determines that you can still do work you have done in the past, you will not be considered disabled. If you can’t do the work you did before, the next step is for the SSA to consider whether you can do other work. This is where being aged 60 or older helps.
At this point, the determination hinges on “grid rules.” The grid looks at a combination of the applicant’s age, educational level, and past work experience to determine disability. Those aged 60 and older are classified as “advanced age” and are considered disabled in some circumstances where a younger worker would not be. For example, an applicant in their 60s with a high school education and skilled or semi-skilled work history that is not directly transferable to a new job would be considered disabled. But, an applicant under the age of 50 with the same combination of education and experience would not.
Is It Worth Applying for Social Security Disability in Your 60s?
If you are 60 or older, you may question whether it is worthwhile to apply for SSD when you are so close to being able to take early retirement benefits. The answer is yes. When you take early retirement benefits, the amount of your monthly benefit is reduced forever. However, if you qualify for SSD, you will receive your full retirement benefit amount. When you reach full retirement age, your benefits will switch to retirement benefits, but you will still receive the full monthly benefit.
Talk to a Disability Benefits Advocate Today
While the SSA makes it a little easier for older workers to qualify for SSD, success still depends on the quality of your application. Give yourself the best chance at approval by working with an experienced SSD benefits advocate from the start.
To learn more about how we can help, call (800) 800-2009 right now or contact us here now.
When most people think of qualifying for Social Security Disability (SSD), they think about proving that their medical condition is severe enough that they are unable to earn a living. That is a necessary part of the process. But, there are technical criteria that must be met before the Social Security Administration (SSA) even looks at your medical condition.
To qualify for SSD, a disabled worker must have sufficient work credits. For disability benefits, these credits are measured in two ways. The applicant must have a certain number of total work credits and a certain number of recent work credits. The number of each type of credit required varies depending on the applicant’s age.
What are Work Credits?
When you work and pay into Social Security, you collect work credits. The maximum number of credits you can earn in a year is four, regardless of how much money you make during that year. The amount of earnings it takes to constitute a credit changes over time. In 2023, you must earn $1,640 to earn one credit.
Earning credits for the year tops out at $6,560/year, so most people who work full-time–or even steady part-time jobs–will accrue four credits in a year. If you earn less, you’ll get fewer credits.
How Many Work Credits Are Required for SSD?
For most disabled workers, the minimum number of total work credits accrued to qualify for SSD benefits is 40. That’s the equivalent of 10 years of work. It’s also the same number of work credits required for Social Security retirement benefits. However, disability qualification has another element. Unless you are legally blind, you must also have a certain number of recent work credits. For most applicants, that number is 20 (the equivalent of five years of work) within the 10 years prior to applying.
Credit Requirements are Lower for Younger Workers
A worker who becomes disabled Earlier in adulthood hasn’t had as much time to receive work credits. So the number of work credits required is adjusted based on the applicant’s age. For instance, if the disabled worker is under the age of 24, they need just six work credits (1.5 years) of work in the prior three years.
If your social security record indicates that you do not have enough work credits, review the record carefully. If there are jobs missing from your record or incorrect time periods, you can correct your record.
Talk to an Experienced SSD Benefits Advocate
The rather complicated formula for work credits above is just one element of qualifying for Social Security disability benefits. Proving that your condition meets or equals a condition listed in the Blue Book, or that you are unable to work, can be much more complicated. Most Social Security disability initial applications are denied. To give yourselves the best chance of approval, work with a qualified disability benefits advocate who knows what the SSA is looking for.
To learn more about how we can help, call (800) 800-2009 right now or contact us here.
