Spouses and children can and do receive social security benefits upon the death of a person who paid into the system.

A spouse who is older than 60 will always be able to receive either a majority of the benefit that was (or would have been) paid to you, using their own age against the full benefit amount that was part of your benefit equation. Children, including dependent grandchildren, can receive a payment equal to 75% of your full benefit amount until they are about 18.

If you die, your spouse, children, and in some cases, parents can be eligible to receive Social Security payments. The number of years you need to work for your survivors to be eligible depends on the age at which you die (the earlier you die, the less years you would need to have worked).

However, 10 years of work (or 40 quarters/credits) are always sufficient for your family to be eligible. Your family receives the death benefit in two ways: a one-time lump sum payment of $225, and a monthly payment to eligible survivors.

The amount of the death benefits your survivors will get depends on a multitude of factors such as your age at the time of death and your spouse’s and children’s ages. Benefits are payable for different reasons, and multiple benefit payment streams can go to a family, up to a Family Maximum Amount, which has its own calculation, and is generally between 150-180% of the decedent’s full benefit amount.

Generally, spouses will not receive benefits if they are younger than age 60, unless they are caring for a child under 16 years old. Once the child turns 16, the parent’s benefits will stop unless the child is disabled or if the parent is claiming spousal benefits after age 60. The child’s benefit will continue until the child turns 18, or until 19 if the child is still in high school or even elementary school.

Dependent parents can also be paid 75% of the decedent’s benefit each. A disabled child’s benefits can continue forever if their disability onset was before age 22. If an ex-spouse was married to a worker for 10 years, the ex-spouse is entitled to spousal benefits. The ex-spouse’s benefits are not included in the Maximum Family Amount.

The Social Security website has all the details if you have a need for further information — Found Here

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