xp: Social Security death benefit question

[winecat]

I'm guessing most of you saw the post pinned for a while about Shanbrite's passing.  She has a 4 year old DD.  Shanbrite's mom said that they were going to work on filing this week but she seemed overwhelmed at what needs to be done. They're smart people so I'm guessing they've looked at the top google results already so I thought I'd ask on GBCN. If you have any knowledge that can help them make this easier, I'd love to be able to pass it along.

Thank you!

[gingery]

Just need to call social security, they need a death certificate and next of kin if applicable information. The one time death benefit is $255

[moolarkey]

The funeral home filed the paperwork for me when my mom died. I probably signed it, but they filed it.

[lurknomore]

I don't know anything about how to collect ongoing survivors benefits for her DD but I'm assuming that's what they want. In addition, The one time benefit, like pp said, is $255. To get that, my mom had to call the SS office (actually I think they called her) and give them all the details of my stepdads life and death. It took about 30 min. Once that was complete she had to set up a telephone interview with SSA. It was basically exactly the same info rehashed. It was insane. But she got her check for $255 relatively quickly. Her family will want to look into both benefits.

[bittybomb]

I'm certain if you die and have minor children, your children collect a monthly benefit until the age of at least 18 (maybe older if in college?). I'm not sure if that is a different process.

[MixedBerryJam]

It was time consuming, but surprisingly easy for me. I went to the local SS office with my husband's death certificate (which doesn't get any easier to type after almost 6 years), my marriage certificate, the kids' birth certificates, and I think I took a fistful of my husband's paystubs. I might have brought our most recent tax return, too, but I don't really remember. I took a number and filled out all the paperwork right then and there with the SS rep. The checks were electronically deposited to a trustee account I had set up at my bank, a separate one for each kid, and they had to be named exactly whatever it was SS told me to name them, or the transfer would fail. Then I'd just take the money from those accounts (I have two kids) and transfer it into my checking account for living expenses. Once a year, I believe on the anniversary of when my kids started receiving it, I had to fill out an accounting of what I had spent and what I had saved of the funds, and said I had spent it all. I never had to provide any further documentation than just saying I had spent it all. Shanbrite's daughter will receive survivor benefits until she turns 18, or until she turns 19 if she is still in high school. Shanbrite's husband will also receive a one-time payment in the amount of $255 (they call it a burial payment. It wouldn't bury a big toe.)

ETA re the bolded: it wasn't even an accounting. It was just a one-page form that said SS gave you this much for  kid one's benefit. Tell us how much you spent. Tell us how much you saved. The end. No documentation was requested.

ETA2: The name on the account is Kidfirstname Lastname, Mefirstname Lastname, Trustee.

[winecat]

Oct 6, 2015 10:30:03 GMT -5 MixedBerryJam said:

It was time consuming, but surprisingly easy for me. I went to the local SS office with my husband's death certificate (which doesn't get any easier to type after almost 6 years), my marriage certificate, the kids' birth certificates, and I think I took a fistful of my husband's paystubs. I might have brought our most recent tax return, too, but I don't really remember. I took a number and filled out all the paperwork right then and there with the SS rep. The checks were electronically deposited to a trustee account I had set up at my bank, a separate one for each kid, and they had to be named exactly whatever it was SS told me to name them, or the transfer would fail. Then I'd just take the money from those accounts (I have two kids) and transfer it into my checking account for living expenses. Once a year, I believe on the anniversary of when my kids started receiving it, I had to fill out an accounting of what I had spent and what I had saved of the funds, and said I had spent it all. I never had to provide any further documentation than just saying I had spent it all. Shanbrite's daughter will receive survivor benefits until she turns 18, or until she turns 19 if she is still in high school. Shanbrite's husband will also receive a one-time payment in the amount of $255 (they call it a burial payment. It wouldn't bury a big toe.)

ETA re the bolded: it wasn't even an accounting. It was just a one-page form that said SS gave you this much for  kid one's benefit. Tell us how much you spent. Tell us how much you saved. The end. No documentation was requested.

ETA2: The name on the account is Kidfirstname Lastname, Mefirstname Lastname, Trustee.

Thank you for this info!  I will definitely pass it along.  

[JayhawkGirl]

Not for minor children, but I went with MIL to the SS office after FIL died. They did need some info to confirm his previous employment, marriage and death certificates and bank routing info. I imagine they'll need kids' birth certificates.

It took about three weeks after she called to get the appt, if I remember correctly. It was a very droll worker and there was no compassion really shown - sign here, swear this, etc. Deposits started arriving into her acct very soon thereafter.

[Pom]

Oct 10, 2015 12:53:19 GMT -5 @foodielicious said:

Can't really contribute info to this thread, but can any of you post the link to the fund that was started for them (or PM it to me)? i thought I had it saved, but can't find it.

I can't find it now.  winecat

[winecat]

Oct 10, 2015 12:53:19 GMT -5 @foodielicious said:

Can't really contribute info to this thread, but can any of you post the link to the fund that was started for them (or PM it to me)? i thought I had it saved, but can't find it.

Here it is: www.youcaring.com/peter-szameitat-438353

Thank you for tagging me Pom!