ELIGIBILITY
-The deceased worker must have credit for work covered by Social Security, ranging from 1-1/2 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 time).
-Children who were disabled before reaching 22, as long as they remained disabled.

LUMP-SUM DEATH PAYMENT
A one-time 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 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
-You must apply in order to receive benefits. You may apply to any Social Security office or, if you wish, you may apply by telephone. Just dial the toll-free number 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 TELESERVICE:
-You may call Social Security toll-free, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. The number to use is
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.
-You may use the toll-free number to make an appointment either in a Social Security office or telephone to apply for benefits, transact other Social Security business, or just ask questions.