Social security survivor benefits are a mouthful, that’s why they are sometimes referred to as window benefits. If you haven’t heard of survivor benefits of window benefits before, it can be confusing since there is a lot to know. Keep reading to learn what you need to know about survivors benefits.
First, let’s start with what survivors benefits are. When someone on social security or who qualified for social security passes away and leaves a spouse or minor children, they can collect survivors benefits.
For example, let’s say Bob worked and paid into the social security system his whole life, and then passed away at 70 years old leaving behind a spouse and minor children. Both his spouse and children will be eligible to receive survivors benefits.
Now here is where it gets tricky. let’s say Bob was married to his spouse for 30 years until he passed away, but before that, he was married for 10 years to someone else. That ex-spouse of 10 years is also eligible to get survivors benefits. As long as you were married for at least 10 years (not 9 years and 364 days) you are also eligible.
To learn more about survivors benefits, watch the video above!
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