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Using Survivors’ Benefits to Pay for Senior Housing & Long Term Care
| Definition |
Qualifications |
Costs |
| Pros & Cons |
Benefit Types & Limits |
How to Apply |
| Overview of Survivors’ Benefits | ||
Survivors’ Benefits are an extension of the Social Security program that pays out a portion or all of the benefits of a deceased individual to their surviving dependent children or spouse.
Survivors’ Benefits is a re-direction of the deceased‘s Social Security benefits to their surviving spouse or surviving ex-spouse (provided they were married 10 years before divorcing). 50-100% of the benefits can be re-directed depending on the amount of Social Security the surviving spouse already receives. This could be a total of $1,000 - $2,000 / month.
Follows is an example of how this might be used to pay for long term care. A divorced woman’s is moving into an assisted living community and needs additional resources to help pay. Her ex-husband has passed away several years back. Despite the divorce she remains eligible for some of her former husband’s Social Security benefits. She might apply for these and combine them with her own benefits to help offset the cost of assisted living.
As seniors receive Survivor’s Benefits checks directly from the government, they or their loved ones are free to apply those dollars towards the cost of home care, adult day care or residential care.
Be Aware That:
Survivors will only receive 50-80% of the deceased’s benefits if they are already receiving their own Social Security.
Survivors’ Benefits are Also Known As:
-Social security survivor’s benefits
-Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance
-OASDI
-Death Benefits
-Social Security survivors insurance
-Social Security Life Insurance
-Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance
-OASDI
-Death Benefits
-Social Security survivors insurance
-Social Security Life Insurance
Age Requirements
Surviving spouses can receive Social Security survivor’s benefits at a reduced level at age 60 and full benefits at age 65. If disabled they can begin at age 50.
Disabilities / Health Requirements
There are no disability or health requirements to qualify for Social Security survivor’s benefits, however if the surviving spouse is disabled, benefits can begin at age 50.
Family Status
Widows, widowers and divorced spouses are eligible for their former spouse’s Social Security survivor’s benefits if they were married 10 yrs and did not re-marry before the age of 60. People re-marrying after 60 are still eligible.
Financial Status Requirements
Survivor’s benefits are not restricted based on an individual’s net worth or their annual earnings provided they are at full retirement age (65-67). However, if they are receiving their own Social Security benefits, they may be eligible for only 50-80% of the deceased’s benefits.
Veteran Status Requirements
Veteran status does not affect Social Security survivor’s benefits eligibility.
Geographic Requirements
Generally, US Citizens are eligible to collect Social Security survivor’s benefits even if they reside abroad. Note that there are many exceptions to this rule.
Other Requirements
Eligible family members for survivors benefits include widows, widowers (and divorced widows and widowers), children and dependent parents.
Types of Benefit Payout
Social Security survivors’ benefits are made as cash payments directly to the individual.
Restrictions on How Payout Can be Used
There are no restrictions on how Social Security survivors’ benefit payments can be spent.
Benefits Amounts & Limits
As survivor’s benefits are a re-direction of the deceased’s benefits, the same limits apply. The average check is around $1,000 / month and the maximum is around $2,000 / month. However, if the survivor is already receiving their own benefits, they should expect to receive only 50-80% of the deceased’s benefits in addition to their own. There is also a one-time lump sum benefit paid to the survivor of approximately $250.
Time to Receive Benefits
1-2 months. The time to receive Social Security survivors’ benefits depends on whether the applicant is already receiving their own benefits. Those who are receiving benefits currently typically experience faster processing.
This Source Can Help For
-In-home care
-Adult day care
-Assisted living / senior living
-Skilled nursing home care
-Alzheimer's / dementia care
-Adult day care
-Assisted living / senior living
-Skilled nursing home care
-Alzheimer's / dementia care
There are no costs to receive Social Security survivors’ benefits.
The SSA provides a questionnaire takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and screens for a variety of benefits. One can take the federal government’s benefits eligibility test here.
