Spousal Benefits

Social Security for Dependent Parents

Parents take care of us for so many years, and in some cases we are able to help our own parents in their retirement.  But what will happen if your dependent parent doesn’t outlive you?

Very few people know about an important social security benefit that can help your financially dependent parent should you die. If your parent relies on you for more than half of their living expenses, they may be able to receive benefits after your death. In order to take advantage of this benefit you must have earned enough credits to qualify for social security – that’s 40 credit hours – and your parent must:

Receive at least half of his or her support from you

  • Be at least 62 years old
  • Not have remarried since the adult child’s death
  • Not have an individual social security benefit that’s more than the potential benefit based on your earnings

How This Affects Social Security Benefit Planning

First, the age at which you claim your own retirement benefit doesn’t affect the time at which your parent can start receiving a parent’s benefit. (It is your date of death that determines that.)

Second, the age at which you claim your retirement benefit doesn’t affect the amount of your parent’s benefit based on your work record. The amount of a parent’s benefit is 82.5% of the deceased person’s primary insurance amount if there is one eligible parent. If there are two eligible parents, each parent’s benefit as a parent is 75% of the deceased person’s primary insurance amount. (If the parent is already receiving a different Social Security benefit — such as their own retirement benefit — then the total amount they will receive is the greater of the two benefits.)

We offer a FREE Quiz that you can take to test your knowledge on YOUR social security. Most often people wait until they need it the most.  Don’t be that person. Contact us today! Or Call: 877-270-SSBP (7727)