what happens to unclaimed social security benefits and is it ever to late to claim?

Question

My friend's father died when she was 11 she is know 31 .Her father was in the process of getting his citizenship .He worked and payed his taxes like everyone else .The thing is she doesn't have the same last name as him .

Answer 1

There is probably nothing to claim. He would need to have had 40 quarters of creditable employment -- 10 years -- before any death benefits would have been payable.

Answer 2

It's sometimes possible to get back benefits, but probably not that far back. She could call the social security office and ask them, but not likely anything can be done this many years later.