When you die, certain members of your family may be eligible for benefits on your Social Security record if you earned enough credits while you were working. There is also the Special One-Time Death Benefit (Lump Sum). Read more about these benefits here.
When
a servicemember dies, certain members of his family may be eligible for benefits
on his Social Security record if he earned enough credits while
you were working. Family members who can collect benefits include:
A widow or widower who is 60 or older
A widow or widower who
is 50 or older and disabled
A widow or widower at any age if she
or he is caring for a child under age 16 or a disabled child who is
receiving Social Security benefits;
Children if they are unmarried
and o under age 18;
Under age 19 but in an elementary or secondary
school as a full-time student; or
Age 18 or older and severely disabled
(the disability must have started before age 22)
The servicemember's parents,
if they were dependent on him for at least half of their support
Special One-time Death Benefit
If you had enough credits, a special
one-time payment of $255 also will be made after your death. This
benefit is paid only to your widow(er) or minor children.