Social Security Survivors Insurance | Social Security Administration - Lorain

Determination of eligibility is made by Social Security and has complex criteria. Visit website or contact local office for details. Serves dependents of deceased worker who worked the required years under Social Security: - Widow or widower may be able to receive full benefits at full retirement age. The full retirement age for a survivor is age 66 for individuals born in 1945-1956 and will gradually increase to age 67 for individuals born in 1962 or later. Reduced widow or widower benefits can be received as early as age 60. If the surviving spouse is disabled, benefits can begin as early as age 50. - Widow or widower can receive benefits at any age if she or he takes care of the deceased worker's child who is receiving Social Security benefits and younger than age 16 or disabled. - Deceased worker's unmarried children who are younger than age 18 (or up to age 19 if they are attending elementary or secondary school full time) also can receive benefits. The deceased worker's children can get benefits at any age if they were disabled before age 22 and remain disabled. - The deceased worker's stepchildren, grandchildren, step-grandchildren, or adopted children may be eligible for benefits if their biological parents are deceased or disabled, or the deceased worker legally adopted the child. The child must have been living with the deceased worker and receiving at least one-half of his or her support from the deceased worker for the year before the month the deceased worker died. If the child was born during the one-year period, the deceased worker must have lived with and provided at least one-half of the child's support for substantially all of the period from the date of birth to the month the deceased worker died. The biological parent(s) of the child must not be making regular contributions to his or her support. - The deceased worker's dependent parents can receive benefits if they are age 62 or older. (For the deceased worker's parents to qualify as dependents, the deceased worker would have had to provide at least one-half of their support.) - Surviving divorced spouses of deceased workers who were age 60 or older (50-59 if disabled) can get benefits if the marriage lasted at least 10 years. The surviving former spouse, however, does not have to meet the age or length-of-marriage rule if he or she is caring for the deceased worker's child who is younger than age 16 or who is disabled. The child must be the surviving former spouse's natural or legally adopted child.

An online application. Other documents will be requested as needed and include proof of death and proof of relationship (marriage certificate and/or birth certificate).

Same as site hours.