Disability Insurance Survivors Benefits
(What are they? Do you have them? What does that mean? You know, stuff like that.)
Written by
Jessica Huneck is an insurance writer from TrustedChoice.com. She began her writing career in 2011 and has since earned herself a bachelor's degree in English writing.
Whether you've recently lost someone who's left you their Social Security Disability Benefits or you're just trying to plan a bit for the future, there's a lot out there you need to know. Luckily, to help you make sense of survivors benefits — and for many other reasons — independent insurance agents were invented.
An independent insurance agent comes fully loaded with knowledge of the nitty-gritty on Social Security Disability Insurance and how benefits can be passed on, and can help you plan accordingly. But first, here's a bit of background on Social Security Disability Insurance.
What Is Social Security Disability Insurance?
There are a number of different types of disability policies out there, including both individual and group forms of long-term and short-term disability. Plus, some states even have their own disability programs on top of that.
Basically, all disability insurance plans are designed to help provide income replacement coverage if you become disabled, critically ill, or injured and can't work.
Social Security Disability Insurance, though, is a bit different. It's run by the federal government and is a payroll-funded program that offers coverage if you have a full disability, and doesn't apply to short-term disabilities.
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What Are Survivors Social Security Disability Benefits?
Simply put, we're talking about forwarding on the monthly Social Security payments of a disabled wage earner after they pass. This can be to a spouse, a child, or a family member — whoever you like, really.
This can be a huge help when it comes to tying up loose ends after your loss and maintaining certain comforts of life with monthly payouts that act like an income replacement. Knowing that a portion of your family member's income will be available even after they’re gone is a bit of a relief and can allow you to focus on the important things.
Am I Eligible for Survivors Social Security Disability Benefits?
Survivors benefits for Social Security aren't just given to everyone, there are rules and guidelines to follow as well. Benefits can only pass on to:
- A widow or widower age 60 or older
- A surviving divorced spouse, under certain circumstances
- A widow or widower at any age who is caring for the deceased’s child who is under age 16 or disabled and receiving benefits on their record
- An unmarried child of the deceased who is:
- Younger than age 18
- Age 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22
What Survivors Social Security Disability Benefits Are Available?
The amount you would receive in Social Security survivors benefits is a percentage of what the deceased paid into Social Security. It also depends on your age and the type of benefit you are eligible to receive.
It’s best to have a chat with your independent insurance agent about the matter. Social Security Disability benefits are right up their alley and they can help crack this code.
What Are the Social Security Disability Survivors Benefits for a Widow?
Sadly, no survivor will receive the full benefit that the disabled party received. Instead it's based on a percentage of the original payout. Benefits include:
- You can receive full benefits at retirement age for survivors, or reduced benefits as early as age 60.
- If you qualify for retirement benefits on your own, you can switch to yours as early as age 62.
- If a widow or widower who is caring for the deceased's child receives Social Security benefits, they're still eligible if their disability started before those payments end, or within 7 days after they end.
- You can still receive survivors benefits at any age if you have not remarried and you are taking care of the deceased's child.
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What Are the Social Security Disability Survivors Benefits for a Parent of a Disabled Child?
Survivors benefits are available to the spouse or family member taking care of a disabled child as long as the child had a disability prior to age 22.
How an Independent Insurance Agent Can Help
An independent insurance agent can be your knight in shining armor when it comes to figuring out survivors Social Security Disability Benefits. They're experts on the subject and have seen it all. If you have a question, they've got an answer. And that's pretty important when you've got a lot of other things on your plate.
But they don't just answer questions and scram. They're there to help you navigate your payouts and work with the government programs to get you set up right. Nice, isn't it?