What happens to my dad's Social Security?

Question

My dad died a week before he turned 54. He was unmarried and has two sons me and my brother....did he waste paying into it for 37 years? Or do we get something?

Answer 1

I am sorry for your loss. You and your brother may qualify for “survivor benefits” if you are unmarried children who are under age 18, or up to age 19 if attending elementary or secondary school full time. Children can get benefits at any age if disabled before age 22 and remain disabled. Under certain circumstances, stepchildren, grandchildren, or adopted children may qualify for benefits as well.

There is a one-time “death benefit” of $255 payable to the spouse of the deceased or to minor children if they meet certain requirements.

You and your brother should apply for the “survivor benefits” promptly as benefits start from the time you apply and not from the date of death. Apply by telephone or at any local SSA office. (Check at www.ssa.gov to see if an online application exists.) When you apply for benefits, you need to have the following available:

* Proof of death—either from a funeral home or death certificate;
* Your Social Security number, as well as the deceased worker’s;
* Your birth certificate;
* Your marriage certificate, if you are a widow or widower;
* Your divorce papers, if you are applying as a divorced widow or widower;
* Dependent children’s Social Security numbers, if available, and birth certificates;
* Deceased worker’s W-2 forms or federal self-employment tax return for the most recent year; and
* The name of your bank and your account number in order to deposit benefits directly into your account.

There is a limit to the benefits paid to you and other family members each month. The limit varies, but is generally between 150 and 180 percent of the deceased’s benefit amount.


Good luck!

Will D
Enterprise AL
http://www.notagz.com

Answer 2

Sorry for your loss first of all. When a parent who has worked and contributed to Social Security dies -- first off, they get the death benefit. If the sons are under 18 years old, then they get Survivor's benefits until they turn 18 or finish High School (and that means until 23 if they have a known and recognized disability).

I can tell you that when my own parents died, the death benefit was what we received (and it is no where near what one needs to bury an individual, much less two people), and that the Social Security money does NOT get refunded to the family -- it stays there. and BOTH my parents contributed to Social Security from its inception -- which is getting rare, since most of their generation are dying at a very fast rate and there are many deceased already.

So again, sorry for your loss.

Answer 3

This is a cut out from Social Security This week at socialsecurity.org. Follow the link to read the entire article

When a worker retires after paying 12.4 percent of wages for years, he gets a
monthly Social Security check. The return isn’t very good, but at least there’s a check (so
far). But look what happens when the worker dies: After paying in for all those years, the
worker owns nothing. He can’t leave anything to his children.

Answer 4

I believe it is a waste. My dad passed in December and all the gov't gave was $200. My stepmother will not be allowed to draw from his ss until she is of retirement age. Unless you or brother are under 18 then the gov't supplements till you are. Good luck and sorry for the loss.

Answer 5

If he has no widow and neither you or your brother are disabled then your father's family is not entitled to Soc Sec benefits. The money is in the mayor's pocket or applied to somebody's food stamp card. Sorry...thats just the way it is.

Answer 6

Suggest you phone or visit your local Social Security office. Be sure to have you father's SS number handy.

Answer 7

If you guys are under 18, you can get monthly payments until you are 18 (I think that if you are in college, you can get it until you get out of college). If you are over 18, you are SOL and his SS goes to the "pot".

Answer 8

All bets are off. (Assuming that both sons are adults and he leaves no widow.)