{"id":8703,"date":"2024-11-28T09:48:34","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T09:48:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/who-gets-your-social-security-when-you-die\/"},"modified":"2024-11-28T09:48:34","modified_gmt":"2024-11-28T09:48:34","slug":"who-gets-your-social-security-when-you-die","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=8703","title":{"rendered":"Who Gets Your Social Security When You Die?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\"ScoreCard<\/p>\n

Most of us never see the first 6.2% of our paychecks. That money goes straight to Social Security taxes. If you live long enough and earn the required 40 credits \u2014 which translates to 10 years of work \u2014 you\u2019ll get a monthly retirement benefit someday.<\/p>\n

But who gets your Social Security if you die tomorrow? What happens to all that money you\u2019ve paid into the system?<\/p>\n

Who Gets Your Social Security When You Die?<\/h2>\n

First let\u2019s address a common misconception: Social Security doesn\u2019t set money aside in an account for you. Your payroll taxes fund the Social Security trust. Once you\u2019re eligible, you receive benefits from the trust. But the Social Security Administration doesn\u2019t have a pot of money with your name on it.<\/p>\n

When you die, your Social Security payments will stop. If you die before starting benefits, you won\u2019t get the money you\u2019ve paid in.<\/p>\n

But with survivor benefits, someone else may be able to get Social Security based on your record. They aren\u2019t \u201ctaking\u201d your Social Security. They\u2019re simply using your work history to qualify for Social Security benefits. If you have a spouse, an ex-spouse or dependents, they may be able to use your record to qualify for survivor benefits when you die. Here\u2019s who gets what.<\/p>\n

If You\u2019ve Never Been Married and Don\u2019t Have Dependents<\/h3>\n

No one will receive survivor benefits based on your record if you\u2019ve never married and you don\u2019t have children or other dependents. The money you\u2019ve paid in is simply part of the Social Security trust. It will be used to pay Social Security\u2019s other obligations.<\/p>\n

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If You\u2019re Married<\/h3>\n

If you were married to your spouse for at least nine months, they\u2019ll be eligible for survivor benefits. They can claim benefits once they turn 60 (or 50 if they\u2019re disabled). If they remarry before they\u2019re eligible, they can\u2019t get survivor benefits while they\u2019re married. However, after age 60 (or 50 if they\u2019re disabled), getting remarried won\u2019t affect their benefits.<\/p>\n

For example, if your non-disabled spouse remarried at 55, they can\u2019t receive survivor benefits as long as they\u2019re married. If they get divorced, then they\u2019re eligible. Or if they waited until age 60 to remarry, they\u2019d be eligible as well.<\/p>\n

Important caveat:<\/strong> Your spouse will receive the survivor benefit only if it\u2019s higher than their own Social Security. In other words, Social Security will give them the bigger of the two benefits, but not both.<\/p>\n

Their benefit depends on:<\/p>\n