Families often rely on one person to bring in the income that sustains the household. When the family’s breadwinner dies, the loss is felt deeply. Compounding the family’s grief is the question of how to meet their daily needs. This can quickly become a serious issue.
Under certain conditions, the survivors may be able to draw Social Security survivor benefits in the name of the deceased. Although this can’t replace a lost spouse or parent, it can ease the burden of making ends meet for those left behind.
Qualifying for Social Security
Most working people, whether employees or self-employed, earn credits toward Social Security by paying into it monthly. An individual must earn $1,510 per quarter, or at least $6,040, to earn the maximum four credits a year. Once 40 credits have been earned, a process which normally takes about ten years, it is enough to receive benefit from Social Security….