When a person dies, certain members of their family may be eligible for survivors' benefits. 

A survivor may receive monthly Social Security benefits if the deceased worked and paid Social Security taxes long enough to be eligible for benefits. Jack Myers with Social Security indicates that spouses and divorced spouses are among those who would be eligible for benefits.

An unmarried child of the deceased who is either younger than age 18, younger than age 19 if they’re a full-time student - grade 12 or lower, age 18 or older with a disability that began prior to age 22, or grandchildren can potentially qualify if deceased grandparent was raising child and both parents of the child are deceased or receiving Social Security disability benefits.

One-Time lump sum death payment can pay a one-time payment of $255 to the surviving spouse if they were living with the deceased or if they were living apart from the deceased and eligible for certain Social Security benefits on the deceased’s record.

Contact Social Security at 800-772-1213 or visit www.ssa.gov/locator for local office contact info.