Apr
06
2011
By Guest (not verified)
My mom was waiting to have the interview and get started and has paid her dues into SS taxes. She passed away leaving my sis (24yr) and I (27yr) with some unpaid bills and the cost of the funeral. Is there something for my sis and i where we can get paid for her passing?
Survivor benefits for adult survivors
If either of you were disabled before age 22 and remain disabled you could receive regular survivor benefits.
A one-time payment of $255 is payable to the surviving spouse if he or she was living with the beneficiary at the time of death, OR if living apart, was eligible for Social Security benefits on the beneficiary's earnings record for the month of death.
If there is no surviving spouse, the payment is made to a child who was eligible for benefits on the beneficiary's earnings record in the month of death.
Please contact Social Security directly to see if you qualify.
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/deathbenefits.htm
http://www.ssa.gov/survivorplan/ifyou7.htm
Survivor Benefits for Adult Survivors
In addition to the information listed above, the only way you would be eligible for any benefits would be if she had filed a disability claim prior to death and subsequently the Social Security disability claim were approved. After the 5-mo mandatory waiting period from the date she were found to be disabled were served, benefits would be payable up until the month of death. Benefits in that case would be deemed an "underpayment" and would be payable in a hierarchical fashion. If there were a surviving spouse, he would be eligible to receive the benefits entirely. If not applicable, it would be equally divided amongst surviving children. If not applicable, it would be payable to an estate. If she did not file an application, however, there would be no benefits payable whatsoever, unfortunately.