Page 39 - Gosselin Funeral Home

Social Security
www.socialsecurity.gov
How to Apply for Benefits
Social Security needs certain information to process your application. It’s helpful if you have it when you apply. But don’t delay applying if you don’t have everything. The people at Social Security will help you get it. Their telephone number is 1-800- 772-1213. They need either original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them.
The Information Needed Includes:
Your Social Security Number, as well as the worker’s:
Your Birth Certificate
Your Divorce Papers
Children’s Birth Certificates
Children’s Social Security Numbers if available
Deceased Worker’s W-2 Forms or Federal self-employment tax return
Your checkbook
Special One-Time Death Benefit
If you had enough credits, a special one- time payment of $255.00 also will be made. This payment usually can be made only to the spouse or minor children.
The Death of a Beneficiary
When a person who receives Social Security benefits dies, no benefit is payable for the month of death. That means if the person died any time
in July, for example, the check dated August 3 (which is payment for July) should be returned, unless the check is made out jointly to a husband and wife. In that case, the survivor can bring the check to the Social Security office to have
the payee information changed.
If the person’s benefits were being deposited directly into a financial institution, the financial institution should also be notified of the death as soon as possible. It will return any payments received after death. Family members may be eligible for
Social Security survivor benefits when a retired worker dies.
Who can Receive Survivor Benefits?
When a person dies, certain members of your family may be eligible for benefits of his/her Social Security record, if he/she had earned enough credits while he/she was working. The family members who can collect benefits are:
• A widow or widower who is 60 or older; • A widow or widower who is 50 or older
and disabled;
• A widow or widower at any age if she
or he is caring for a child under 16 or a disabled child who is receiving Social Security
GOSSELIN FUNERAL HOME - Page 39