Missed survivor benefits? Should my mother have automatically received my deceased father's higher Social Security payment?

Survivor benefits are NOT automatic - she needed to apply for them after your father passed away. SSA doesn't automatically switch benefits, even when they know someone has died. Your mother should contact Social Security immediately to apply for survivor benefits. She may be able to receive up to 100% of your father's benefit amount. The good news is there might be some retroactive benefits available, though probably not for the full three years. Generally, SSA can pay up to 6 months of retroactive survivor benefits, but given the circumstances, it's worth asking. Have your mother call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visit her local field office with: - Her ID - Your father's death certificate - Their marriage certificate - Both Social Security numbers - A recent bank statement They'll help determine what she's eligible for going forward and any potential back payments.

same thing happened to my sister after her husband died. nobody tells you ANYTHING, you're just supposed to magically know all these rules. she missed out on almost 2 yrs of higher payments before someone at her church mentioned it!

THIS IS WHY THE SSA MAKES ME SO ANGRY!!!! They KNOW when someone dies (they get death certificates) and they KNOW who the spouse is, but they DELIBERATELY don't tell people about survivor benefits so they can SAVE MONEY!!!! I'm convinced this is intentional to reduce how much they pay out. The government counts on people not knowing their rights. Your poor mother has been ROBBED of benefits she EARNED through your father's work history!!! It makes my blood BOIL!!!!!

I'm a former SSA claims specialist, and I want to clarify a few things: 1. Your mother should definitely apply for survivor benefits ASAP. As a widow, she's eligible for 100% of your father's benefit amount. 2. Regarding retroactivity: The standard is 6 months of retroactive payments for survivor benefits. However, there's an exception that might help. If she can demonstrate "good cause" for the late filing (such as incorrect information from an SSA employee, language barriers, or mental/physical limitations), she might be eligible for additional retroactive benefits. 3. Even if she can only get 6 months back, securing the higher monthly amount going forward is crucial. 4. When she applies, have her explicitly request an "Administrative Good Cause determination" for filing late, explaining that she was never informed of the requirement to apply separately for survivor benefits. While I can't promise she'll get the full three years back, documenting the reasons for the delayed filing might help extend beyond the standard 6-month retroactive period.

I went through the exact same situation last year after discovering my mom had been receiving her own smaller benefit for 5 years after my dad died! When I called SSA, I couldn't get through for days. Busy signals, disconnections, hold times of 2+ hours, then suddenly disconnected. Absolute nightmare. I finally tried a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an SSA agent in 20 minutes instead of hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once we finally spoke with someone, we explained the situation and they were actually helpful. Mom got 6 months of retroactive payments and now receives about $950 more each month. The representative explained that while death information is shared with SSA, they don't automatically convert benefits because they need to determine eligibility and have the survivor formally choose which benefit to receive.

My mom just went through this last yr. One thing noone mentioned is that your mother needs to SPECIFICALLY say she is filing for "SURVIVOR BENEFITS" when she calls or visits. My mom just said she wanted to "get my husbands benefits" and the SSA person thought she was asking about a lump sum death payment (which is only $255) and told her there was nothing else. We had to go back a second time before she got the right help. Be specific with the words you use!

happened to my grandma too! she found out 2 years after grandpa died and the social security person said its super common. they told her they cant automatically switch ppl over because sometimes the surviving spouse's own benefit is actually higher. but seems like they could at least send a letter explaining options!

One more important point: When your mother applies for survivor benefits, she should bring documentation of your father's death to the SSA office. While the SSA often receives death information through state reporting systems, bringing the death certificate ensures there's no question about her eligibility. Also, if your mother continues to struggle financially, ask about SSI (Supplemental Security Income) when you're at the office. This is a separate program with strict income and resource limits, but it provides additional monthly payments to those who qualify. Finally, she should check if her Medicare Part B premiums might decrease with her new income situation. Sometimes survivors qualify for Medicare Savings Programs through their state that can pay their Medicare premiums.

Just a quick update suggestion - when you visit the SSA office, try to go early in the morning (before they open if possible) and bring something to read/do. Wait times can be several hours, especially now with the recent COLA announcements bringing in more visitors. Also, many SSA offices now require appointments for all but the most urgent matters, so I'd recommend calling ahead or checking online to see if you need to schedule a visit. Most survivor benefits applications can be started online at ssa.gov, which might save some time before an in-person visit.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information. I just checked mom's bank statements, and sure enough, there was never an increase after dad passed. She's been receiving the same amount this whole time. I've scheduled an appointment at our local SSA office next Tuesday. I'll make sure to: - Specifically ask for "survivor benefits" - Request an "Administrative Good Cause determination" - Bring all the documentation (death certificate, marriage certificate, IDs, etc.) - Inquire about Medicare premium reduction possibilities I'll update this thread after our appointment to let you know how it goes, in case it helps anyone else in a similar situation. Hopefully we can at least get some retroactive payments and the increased benefit going forward.

I'm so sorry your family is going through this - it's unfortunately more common than it should be. As someone who recently helped my elderly neighbor navigate a similar situation, I wanted to add a couple practical tips for your SSA appointment: 1. Bring multiple copies of all documents - they sometimes need to keep originals or make their own copies 2. Write down a timeline of events (when your father passed, when benefits should have started, etc.) to help explain the situation clearly 3. If possible, consider having your mother sign a form allowing you to speak on her behalf during the appointment - this can help if she gets overwhelmed or forgets details Also, don't get discouraged if the first representative seems unhelpful. My neighbor had to speak with three different people before finding someone knowledgeable about the "good cause" exception for retroactive benefits. Sometimes asking to speak with a supervisor or claims specialist can make a big difference. Wishing you and your mother the best of luck with this! Please do update us - these situations are so stressful but knowledge shared here really helps other families avoid the same pitfalls.

I'm so sorry your family is dealing with this situation - it's heartbreaking how many people miss out on survivor benefits simply because they weren't informed. As someone who works in elder advocacy, I see this happen far too often. One additional resource that might help: many Area Agencies on Aging have benefits counselors who specialize in Social Security issues and can sometimes accompany seniors to SSA appointments or help prepare documentation. You can find your local agency through the Eldercare Locator at eldercare.acl.gov or by calling 1-800-677-1116. Also, if your mother is a veteran or your father was a veteran, there may be additional survivor benefits available through the VA that are completely separate from Social Security. These are often overlooked as well. I hope your appointment goes well next Tuesday! The fact that you're advocating for your mother and came prepared with all this great advice from the community gives me hope that you'll get a positive outcome.

I'm so sorry you and your mother are going through this difficult situation. As someone who recently helped a family member with a similar issue, I want to emphasize how important it is to stay persistent during your appointment next Tuesday. One thing I learned is that when you're at the SSA office, make sure to ask them to document in your mother's file that she was never informed about the need to apply for survivor benefits separately. This creates a paper trail that could support your "good cause" request for extended retroactive benefits. Also, if they tell you that only 6 months retroactive is possible, politely ask to speak with a supervisor or have them review the "good cause" provisions in their manual. Sometimes the front-line staff aren't fully familiar with all the exceptions that might apply. The fact that your mother has been struggling financially while entitled to significantly higher benefits should definitely be part of your good cause argument. Don't be afraid to explain the real impact this has had on her quality of life over the past three years. Sending positive thoughts for your appointment - I hope you're able to get both the ongoing increased benefits and some meaningful retroactive payments for your mom!

I'm a Social Security disability attorney, and I want to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet. When you go to your appointment next Tuesday, also ask about the "protective filing date." If your mother calls SSA today or tomorrow to report her intent to file for survivor benefits, they should establish a protective filing date that could help with retroactive benefits even before your in-person appointment. A protective filing date essentially "holds your place in line" and can sometimes extend the retroactive period beyond what would normally be available. This is especially important in survivor benefit cases where there may have been a communication breakdown. Also, bring a written statement detailing exactly what happened - when your father died, that no one from SSA contacted your family about survivor benefits, and that your mother continued receiving only her own benefit. Having this in writing helps ensure nothing gets missed during what can be an overwhelming appointment. One last tip: if the local office can't help with the good cause determination, ask about filing an appeal or having the case reviewed at the regional level. Sometimes different levels of the organization have different perspectives on these situations. Best of luck with your appointment - your preparation and advocacy for your mother is exactly what she needs right now.

I'm so sorry your family is dealing with this - it's such a common and heartbreaking situation. As someone who went through something similar with my grandmother, I wanted to share one more resource that really helped us. Before your Tuesday appointment, consider contacting your local AARP chapter or senior center. Many have volunteer tax preparers and benefits counselors who are very familiar with Social Security issues. They might be able to review your documentation beforehand or even accompany you to the appointment. Also, when you call tomorrow to establish that protective filing date (which is excellent advice!), make sure to get the representative's name and ask for a confirmation number or reference number for your call. This creates additional documentation that could be helpful later. One thing that worked for my grandmother was bringing a simple calculation showing exactly how much money she missed out on over the months she should have been receiving survivor benefits. Sometimes seeing the actual dollar amount helps representatives understand the real impact and take the case more seriously. You're doing such an important thing advocating for your mother. Even if you can't recover all the back payments, getting her onto the correct benefit amount going forward will make such a difference in her quality of life. Please keep us updated on how it goes!