Will my children get additional survivor benefits after their father died? Already receiving dependent benefits

Yes, your children will likely receive increased benefits. When a parent dies, dependent benefits typically convert to survivor benefits, which are generally 75% of the deceased's full benefit amount (compared to 50% for dependent benefits). The transition isn't always automatic though - you should definitely contact SSA. You'll need your ex-husband's death certificate and the children's Social Security numbers. Call the national number (800-772-1213) early in the morning (right when they open) rather than trying the local office.

When my husband died 2 years ago, my son's benefit went up about $430/month. It took almost 3 months to get processed though!!! Make sure you report the death ASAP even if you dont have the death certificate yet. And YES there is a family maximum but I don't know how they calculate it. Something about 150-180% of the workers benefit???

my sister had this exact situation last year! the kids were already getting benefits but then when her ex died they did get more money. they had to go into the SS office though and file paperwork it wasnt automatic

Sorry for your loss. This is definitely something you should look into soon as survivor benefits can help significantly with your teenagers' expenses. When calling SSA be prepared to wait for hours - I tried for weeks and couldn't get through.

There are a few important things to understand here: 1. Your children will automatically convert from dependent benefits to survivor benefits, which is typically an increase from 50% to 75% of your ex-husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). 2. The Family Maximum Benefit (FMB) will apply. This limits the total amount all survivors can receive to between 150%-180% of the deceased's benefit, depending on their earnings record. 3. You need to report the death to SSA - this isn't automatic despite what some believe. Bring the death certificate when you do contact them. 4. There's a one-time death benefit of $255 that may be payable to the children if no surviving spouse is eligible. 5. Benefits will continue until age 18 (or 19 if still in high school). I recommend calling the national number at 800-772-1213 first thing when they open at 8am your local time.

Im confused about one thing - if they were already getting benefits because he was over 65, wouldnt they already be getting 50% of his benefit? So the increase would just be from 50% to 75%? Not double or anything. Also remember they don't get both - survivor benefits replace dependent benefits.

When dealing with survivor benefits, timing is really important. SSA only allows for 6 months of retroactive benefits for survivors, so you'll want to file as soon as possible to avoid losing any potential payments. Based on my experience helping my brother's family last year, I'd recommend: 1. Gather all documents now (death certificate, birth certificates, your divorce decree if SSA doesn't already have it) 2. Call the national number (800-772-1213) but try right at 8:00 AM when they open 3. If you can't get through, try again on Wednesday-Friday as Monday and Tuesday are typically their busiest days 4. Check your children's mySocialSecurity accounts (if they have them) for any notifications The increase from dependent to survivor benefits was substantial for my niece and nephew, so it's definitely worth pursuing quickly.

Does anyone know if the kids benefits are affected by whether the mom (original poster) is working or not??? When my kids got survivor benefits they told me my income didn't matter since I was the surviving parent not the deceased worker. But with dependent benefits I thought there were rules about income limits?? This is so CONFUSING!!!

Since your question hasn't been fully answered yet: Yes, your children will receive higher survivor benefits than they were getting as dependents. What's important to understand is the Family Maximum Benefit (FMB) calculation will need to be redone. With two teenage children, they'll likely each receive 75% of your ex-husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount), but if that exceeds the family maximum, their benefits will be proportionally reduced. You'll only know the exact amounts after SSA processes the claim. One more critical point - these survivor benefits are payable through age 18, or 19 if still in high school. This is something to plan for as the benefits will stop when they graduate or turn 19, whichever comes first.