Social Security Survivor Benefit: What Should Los Angeles Citizens Know About It

The death of someone whom you love is nothing but a tragedy in itself. What makes it even more devastatingly painful to endure, though, is the fact that the death of your loved one is the one who earns a living for your family.

A sudden demise of an income earner would lead you or all of the remaining family members to suffer hardly, especially on how to deal with your daily needs in life. More often than not, you’ll actually need some assistance from the government just for you and your family to make ends meet.

As such, the federal government had tasked the Social Security Administration (SSA) to take on the survivor benefits programs to provide financial assistance to you as the surviving members of the victim. From its inception to the present, a lot of the remaining members of employees have managed to weather the storm and survive tough times.

How the Social Security survivor benefit program works

An employee working diligently for your needs contributes Social Security taxes, which are a portion of their salaries he or she receives every month. Regular contributions would mean that the employee is likely to accumulate earnings credits in the Social Security, which would be helpful if he or she is in need of assistance.

If that employee suddenly passes away, his or her surviving members may be entitled to survivors benefits. Generally, younger workers need fewer credits than their older counterparts. But then, survivors of the deceased employee may be entitled to higher benefits if their loved one had contributed more Social Security taxes during their years of work.

In most cases, the number of required earnings credits is usually based on the worker's age at the time of death. Nonetheless, no worker must have accumulated more than 40 earnings credits equivalent to 10 years of work to be fully insured for any survivors’ benefits.

Who are entitled?

Basically, under Social Security rules, the beneficiary’s widow or widower, as well as the dependent children and parents, are all entitled to monthly benefits under the survivors’ benefits program.

A worker’s widow or widower may receive this benefit in full at age 65 if born before January 1940. However, a surviving spouse may also receive this benefit as early as age 60 but at a reduced rate or amount. If a widow or widower is suffering from a disabling condition, he or she can begin receiving benefits at age 50.

Also, a surviving spouse who takes care of the deceased beneficiary’s child who is eligible to a child’s benefit and also suffering from a disability may receive benefits at any age.

Meanwhile, the deceased worker’s unmarried children, who are under age 18, are also entitled to receive benefits. If they are disabled before reaching the age of 22 and remain under this permanent condition, they can get benefits at any age. In some instances, even stepchildren, grandchildren, or adopted children can receive the same benefits.

Furthermore, a worker’s dependent parents can receive benefits if they are age 62 or older, provided the worker contributes at least half the share of their support.

By percentage, here is a list of the amount each beneficiary may receive:

• A widow or widower generally gets 100 percent of the worker’s basic benefit amount if he or she is at his or her full retirement age.
• A widow or widower will receive about 71-99 percent of the worker’s basic benefit amount if the widow or widower is under full retirement age.
• A widow or widower, at any age, with a child under age 16, receives 75 percent of the worker’s benefit amount.
• Children receive 75 percent of the worker’s benefit amount.

Seeking legal representation

Availing of survivors’ benefits in Los Angeles and in California is not easy at the initial application stage. Time-consuming and complicated, the risk of getting denied is high, which would jeopardize you and your family’s ability to make ends meet after the demise of your loved one.

This is why it is important that you seek representation as soon as possible. It would be then beneficial for you to seek the help of a Social Security attorney in Los Angeles to handle your case for you. Luckily, the Mesriani Law Group provides expert representation, particularly for those who are applying or appealing for their survivors’ benefits claims.

Our law firm’s competency in winning our client’s Social Security claims will surely result in you winning your own. Our Los Angeles Social Security lawyers are well-versed with the rules of the SSA, as well as the requirements in applying for survivors’ benefits, as well as the disability and retirement benefits.

Also, our lawyers work on a contingency fee, also called a “No Win, No Fee” basis. This means that you won’t have to pay anything if we don’t win your claim for you.

For us to formally start your survivors’ benefits claim, contact us through our toll-free number 1-866-325-4529. You may also fill out our Free Case Analysis Form on the right side of your screen, or e-mail us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .