Ignorance excuses no one. It is a well-established legal maxim which means don’t sleep on your duty to know the law in order not to be oppressed or victimized.
Most of the deceased family members are unaware of the fact that they are entitled to social security death benefits. As a result, they are not getting the sums which are intended to them. Family members include the spouse, children, parents and other individuals stipulated by the charter. You can ask a knowledgeable social security attorney about some qualifications in order for you to get your share.
Family members such as a widow or widower who is 60 years old or above, 50 year old and disabled, or any age but is caring for the member’s child who is under 16 years old or disabled are entitled to Social Security benefits. The deceased member’s children can also be included in the benefits if they are unmarried, minor, 18 or older and severely disabled (such disability must have started before the age of 22), or between 18 -19 years old but is a full-time elementary or high school student. Parents can also receive benefits if they are dependent on the deceased member for at least ½ of support. Spouses and children also receive a percentage of the retirement benefit computed from the wages of the deceased member. If there is no surviving spouse Payment can also be made to the child of the deceased who was eligible for benefits on the beneficiary's wage record in the month of death in case there was no surviving spouse.
Social security death benefit is one of the benefits given by Social Security to provide financial aid to the family members of its deceased member. For one to be entitled to it, it must be first proven that said member contracted a plan to be a bonafide member and had chosen his beneficiaries.
If an active employee covered by a plan dies, his beneficiaries will be entitled to death benefit. The beneficiaries should have been chosen by the member himself. This intention must be reflected on the plan. If ever he names more than one beneficiary, the death benefit will be equally divided among the beneficiaries.
If you have ambiguities regarding death benefits, you can consult a social security death attorney to be enlightened. A social security death attorney can also do the complicated paper works and competently represent you in your death benefit claim.
