My friend whose husband just passed away has been told she cannot collect survivor benefits for her until at least 60. She has 2 children under 18 and has lost her job. Any suggestions?
Sandie

She can collect for her two children under age 18.

Did her husband pay into social security for the required number of years??

She can get SSI I know lots of people whose husbands died and they were in their 20s and 30s.
Check here
Survivors Benefits

__________________
The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Is there a chance that he opted out of paying into social security, or he worked for himself and didn't file his taxes properly? Those things would make her ineligible, I believe.

I'm very sorry for your friend. I can't imagine being faced with that situation.

It isn't always automatic for benefits. She does need to be 60 or older / 50 or older if disabled. She needs to see about the minor children, once she proves they are his, typically there will be something there monthly. It is also possible the minors are entitled to the one time payment of $255 to help with funeral costs.

Many people are shooting themselves in the foot by doing cash and under the table jobs if they aren't paying in as self employed. Social Security is not a gravy train, nor was it ever intended to support people. It was meant to supplement.

dl

My mother was widowed when she was 47, but she couldn't receive my father's SS benefits until he would have been 60 (or 62, not sure exactly). The children are different, though, I believe. I would suggest she consult an attorney who specializes in social security issues.

__________________

Reading is Fundamental.

The possiblity of receiving social security benefits is based upon the surviving spouse's age, not the deceased. Age is one componenet of the requiremens to be met.

I wouldn't involve an attorney until I had familiarized myself with Social Security's requirements, applied, and then been refused if I thought I was qualified.

dl

the same thing happened when my dad died. he had been old enough to receive SS and was receiving it until he died, but my mom wasnt. However, luckily she turned 62 a month later and was able to start collecting. But like everybody else says the minor kids should get a monthly check til they turn 18.

steph

__________________
IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/my2cuties/diabetes_1.gif[/IMG]

Thank you all for the info. I will pass it on to her.
Sandie

Please tell your friend not to waste her money on an attorney. This is something that is done every day at the Social Security Office. All she has to do is go to the Social Security Office, take her marriage certificate and birth certificates of her children. They will give her the forms she needs to fill out and she'll start collecting the monthly benefits for her children.

Are they his children?

__________________
Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

All the cool babies are wearing cloth!