Social Security survivor benefits documents for phone interview + timeline for first payment

I went through this last year after my husband passed. For the phone interview, have these documents ready: - Your mom's death certificate - Marriage certificate - Both birth certificates (your mom's and dad's) - Your mom's Social Security number - Your dad's direct deposit information - Your mom's most recent W-2 or tax return - If your dad is already receiving Social Security, have that info handy They'll ask about marriage date, date of death, and employment history. For me, benefits started about 6 weeks after approval. Make sure your dad knows he'll get 100% of her benefit amount only if he's at full retirement age, otherwise it's reduced.

i HAD THE SAME PROBLEM trying to get survivor benefits after my wife died!!! they kept asking for MORE documents every time i called and it took FOUR MONTHS to get paid!! better keep calling them because they lost my paperwork TWICE and never told me until i called to check status!!!

For the phone interview, copies of documents are actually fine - they'll verify electronically in most cases. However, keep the originals accessible in case they request them later. A few important things to know: 1. Your dad may be eligible for a one-time death benefit of $255 2. If your mom was receiving benefits, your dad needs to return the payment for the month she died 3. Survivor benefits can start as early as the month of death if filed within the same month 4. If your dad is under FRA (Full Retirement Age) and working, there are earnings limits that could reduce benefits The timeline varies, but typically first payment arrives within 2 months of approval. Back payments (if applicable) may take slightly longer. Make sure your dad has direct deposit set up - paper checks take much longer.

Have you tried calling the main SSA number? Impossible to get through! I spent 3 days trying to reach someone about survivor benefits and kept getting disconnected or put on 2+ hour holds. I finally used Claimyr.com to get through - they connect you directly to an SSA agent without the wait. Saved me so much frustration. You can see how it works in their video: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU When I finally got through, I found out I was missing key documents that would have delayed everything if I had just mailed things in. The agent walked me through exactly what I needed.

Sorry about your mom. When my dad died I had to help my mom apply for survivors benefits. Make sure your dad knows that he can get survivors benefits even if he's already getting his own retirement - SSA will pay the higher of the two amounts (not both). And they backdated my mom's application so she got a nice lump sum for the months they took to process everything.

Since your dad is 68 and your mom passed at 64, here's what you need to know: 1. Your dad should apply for survivor benefits rather than his own retirement right now. Since he's past FRA, he'll receive 100% of your mom's benefit amount (what she would have received at her FRA, not what she was receiving when she passed). 2. He can later switch to his own retirement benefit if it would be higher. This strategy often works well when the surviving spouse has a higher earning record. 3. For proof of death, the death certificate is the primary document. Funeral home documentation can sometimes be used temporarily while waiting for the official death certificate. 4. Since your mom wasn't already receiving benefits, they'll need to calculate what her benefit would have been, which might take a bit longer. I recommend having your dad's own earnings record information available during the interview as well, as they may discuss his options between survivor benefits and his own retirement benefits.

my aunt got survivors benefits last year and she said make sure you have bank statements too because they wanted to see proof of shared expenses? idk why but better have too much than not enough papers right

BEWARE they might say one thing on the phone and then deny benefits later!!! happened to my neighbor and she had to APPEAL which took 6 more months!! make sure EVERYTHING is in writing and get the NAME of who you talk to!!!!

To clarify about your dad's options - since he's already past his Full Retirement Age (FRA), he has a strategic advantage. He could: 1. Apply for survivor benefits now (100% of your mom's FRA benefit amount) 2. Later switch to his own retirement benefit if it would be higher OR 1. Apply for his own retirement benefit now (with delayed retirement credits since he's past FRA) 2. Later switch to survivor benefits if they would be higher The SSA should calculate which approach would give him the highest lifetime benefit during your interview. For payment timeline, if approved, he should see the first payment within 30-60 days. They pay benefits in the month following the month they're due for, so there's always a one-month delay.