Social Security Benefits

Don’t know what to do about Social Security Benefits. Not sure what your benefits are. Review below then. Please contact us with any questions or concerns you might have. We are very knowledgeable about Social Security Benefits. 

Know that A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Directors promptly notifies Social Security of a death.

A DECEASED BENEFICIARY

A.J. Desmond & Sons will complete and submit Social Security Form SSA 721. A family member or other person responsible for the beneficiary's affairs should do the following:

• If monthly benefits were automatic deposit, notify the bank of the beneficiary's death. Request that any funds received for the month of death and later be returned to Social Security as soon as possible.
• If benefits were being paid by check, DO NOT CASH any checks received for the month in which the beneficiary died or thereafter. Return the checks to Social Security as soon as possible.

Survivors may be eligible for social security benefits. Please see below to help you file for Social Security benefits correctly so that timely payments may be made. You may also visit http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/deathbenefits.htm for more information.

ELIGIBILITY

The deceased worker must have credit for work covered by Social Security, ranging from at least 1½ to 10 years depending on his or her age at death.

WHO MAY RECEIVE MONTHLY BENEFITS

A widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled), or at any age if caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled.

• A divorced widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled) if the marriage lasted 10 years, or if caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled.
• Unmarried children up to 18 (19 if they are attending a primary or secondary school full lime).
• Children who were disabled before reaching 22, as long as they remain disabled.
• Dependent parent or parents 62 or older.

LUMP-SUM DEATH PAYMENT

A onetime payment of $255 is paid in addition to the monthly cash benefits described above. The lump-sum death payment (LSDP) is paid in the following priority order:

• A surviving spouse who lived in the same household as the deceased person at the time of death.
• A surviving spouse eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death.
• A child or children eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death.

APPLYING FOR BENEFITS 

To receive benefits, you must apply to Social Security. You may apply at any Social Security office, telephone or on-line at http://www.ssa.gov/onlineservices/. By telephone, call 1-800-772-1213 and the operator will schedule an appointment for you or arrange for the local Social Security office to take your claim by telephone.

SOCIAL SECURITY BY TELEPHONE

You may call Social Security toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. To speak with a representative, call between the hours of 7:00am and 7:00pm on regular business days. At other times and on weekends and holidays, you may leave a message and they will call you back, in most cases, the next business day. Use the toll-free number to make an appointment either in a Social Security office or by telephone to apply for benefits, transact other Social Security business, or ask questions.