Dear Penny: My Husband Died Recently. Am I Entitled to Survivor Benefits?

Dear Penny,

My husband recently passed. I’m not eligible for survivor benefits, but my son is. I was told by a friend I was eligible for widow benefits. I can’t find any information on that. I’m 54 and haven’t worked outside the home most of our marriage.

— Surviving Widow

Dear Widow,

I’m sorry for your loss. And I’m sorry I probably don’t have good news for you.

Your friend may be using a colloquial term for what the Social Security Administration calls “survivor benefits.” There’s no such thing, officially, as “widow benefits.”

You’re likely not eligible to receive survivor benefits because of your age. A surviving spouse can receive Social Security benefits starting at age 60 (or 50 if they have a disability).

To be eligible, your son must be under age 18 or living with a disability. If he’s under age 16 (or any age and disabled) and you take care of him, you could also be eligible for survivors benefits of your own. If that’s the case, and you were told you’re ineligible, check again!

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There’s also what’s called a lump-sum death payment of $255, which you can apply for within two years of your spouse’s death. You can’t apply for this benefit online but you can call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office.

If you haven’t already, you might also check whether your husband had a life insurance policy and made you the beneficiary. This should have been listed in his will if he had one. But, if not, you could also check with his last employer to see if they had a policy option for employees, search for his name and yours in your state’s unclaimed property database, and search the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) Life Insurance Policy Locator online.

Dana Miranda is a Senior Content Strategist at the The Penny Hoarder, a Certified Educator in Personal Finance® and author of YOU DON’T NEED A BUDGET.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, a personal finance website that empowers millions of readers nationwide to make smart decisions with their money through actionable and inspirational advice, and resources about how to make, save and manage money.