The Deceased Must Qualify for Social Security Benefits

• Survivors benefits derive from the work history of the deceased. If the deceased has 10 years or 40 quarters of employment with payments to Social Security retirement, he should qualify for benefits. If he has six credits or about 1 1/2 years of employment in the last three years prior to death, he may also qualify. Qualification for less than 10 years relies on the age of the deceased and work history, with calculations starting at age 21.
  
  

The Widow Must Qualify for Survivors Benefits

• The children must be minors or disabled for the widow to qualify for benefits as a caretaker. A disabled widow can qualify for benefits at age 50 without children, or at age 60 without disability. A widow can be an ex-spouse and qualify for benefits as well, if she is caretaker for the deceased's children and if the marriage lasted 10 years. A widow cannot remarry prior to age 60. A widow caring for children can be of any age, so long as the children are minors or disabled.
  
  

Widow's Benefits

• A widow caring for a minor child or children receives 75 percent of the deceased worker's benefit at full retirement age or PIA. PIA is the primary insurance amount, or 100 percent of the worker's benefit calculated to the full retirement age. Full retirement age for those born from 1943 to 1954 is 66; after 1955, full retirement age gradually edges to 67 for those born in 1960. The average widow's benefit at the end of 2009 was $842, according to a study by the Social Security Office of Retirement and Disability Policy. Work income may affect your benefits, and there are some other potential exceptions to the general rules.
  
  

Survivors Benefits For Children

• Minor children of the deceased worker who are under the age of 18 and in school receive 75 percent of the deceased worker's PIA, but there is a limit collectible from a worker's benefits each month. This amount is 150 to 180 percent of the PIA, and several children and the widow of the same worker will see a decrease in the 75 percent. "Family maximum" is the term used by Social Security for this regulation. You may find the family maximum figure on the deceased's Social Security statement from a prior year or contact the Social Security office near you.