• The widow or widower is between ages 50 and 60;
• The widow or widower meets the definition of disability for adults; and
• The disability started before the worker’s death or within seven years after death.

Note: If a widow or widower is caring for the deceases’ children receives Social Security benefits, he or she is eligible if disability starts before those payments end or within seven years after they end.

• They are unmarried and under age 18, or
• Age 19 and still in high school, or
• Age 18 or over and became severely disabled before age 22 and continue to be disabled.

The types of children who may qualify include a natural legitimate child, a legally adopted child, and a dependent stepchild or grandchild.

However, if you are already receiving Social Security benefits and change your mind, you still may be able to withdraw your Social Security claim and re-apply at a future date. HOwever, if you are receiving retirement benefits, you cannot withdraw your claim if it has been 12 months or more since you first became entitled.

If you are already receiving benefits, withdrawing means the monthly amount you receive in the future could be higher. But you must repay all benefits already paid to you.

• Is age 62 or older;
• Not entitled to benefits on his or her own record that are equal to or greater than the amount of the survivor’s benefit; and
• Was receiving at least one-half support from the deceased child.

In order to receive survivor benefits, the parent must:

• File an application;
• Provide the evidence of support; and
• Not have remarried since the deceased child’s death.

The above requirements apply to natural parents, legally adoptive parents and stepparents established before the deceased child reached age 16.

Your spouse can begin collecting the benefits as early as age 62 (age 65 for Medicare). But the amount will be reduced by a percentage based on the number of months up to his or her full retirement age. Your spouse who is caring for your child who also is receiving benefits can receive the full one-half benefit amount no matter what his or her age is. Your spouse would receive these benefits until the child reaches age 16. At that time, the child’s benefits continue, but your spouse’s benefits stop unless he or she is old enough to receive retirement benefits.

NOTE: A spouse cannot begin receiving benefits until the number holder is receiving benefits.

The online retirement application is easy to use. You can complete it at your convenience in as little as 15 minutes.

An underpayment of benefits due on behalf of a deceased beneficiary is payable to the next of kin or to the legal representative of the estate under the following order of priority established by law:

1. A spouse who was living with the beneficiary when he or she died or a spouse entitled on the same earnings record,
2. A child entitled on the same earnings record,
3. A parent entitled on the same earnings record,
4. A spouse not entitled on the same earnings record,
5. A child not entitled on the same earnings record,
6. A parent not entitled on the same earnings record, or
7. A legal representative of the estate.

An underpayment must be paid in this order. If no one qualifies in the first category, then we proceed to the second category, and so on. In order for a payment to be due, the deceased beneficiary must have lived throughout the entire month for which the check was issued.

To claim the underpayment, you will need to file Form SSA-1724 at your local office. Your can also call 1-800-772-1213 for instructions.  People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call our toll-free TTY number, 1-800-325-0778, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

When they make a decision on your claim, they will send you a letter explaining our decision. If you do not agree with our decision, you can appeal—that is, ask them to look at your case again.

When you ask for an appeal, they will look at the entire decision, even those parts that were in your favor. If our decision was wrong, we will change it.

When and how can I appeal?

If you wish to appeal, you must make your request in writing within 60 days from the date you receive our letter. We assume you receive the letter five days after the date on the letter, unless you can show us you received it later. Call your local Social Security office if you need help with your appeal.

If you filed for Social Security disability benefits or SSI and your claim was denied for medical reasons, you may request an appeal on the Social Security website,www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/appeal.

How many appeal levels are there?

Generally, there are four levels of appeal. They are:

1. Reconsideration

A reconsideration is a complete review of your claim by someone who did not take part in the first decision. We will look at all the evidence submitted when the original decision was made, plus any new evidence.

Most reconsiderations involve a review of your files without the need for you to be present. But when you appeal a decision that you are no longer eligible for disability benefits because your medical condition has improved, you can meet with a Social Security representative and explain why you believe you still have a disability.

2. Hearing

If you disagree with the reconsideration decision, you may ask for a hearing. The hearing will be conducted by an administrative law judge who had no part in the original decision or the reconsideration of your case. The hearing is usually held within 75 miles of your home. The administrative law judge will notify you of the time and place of the hearing.

Before the hearing, we may ask you to give us more evidence and to clarify information about your claim. You may look at the information in your file and give new information.

At the hearing, the administrative law judge will question you and any witnesses you bring. Other witnesses, such as medical or vocational experts, also may give us information at the hearing. You or your representative may question the witnesses.

In certain situations, we may hold your hearing by a video conference rather than in person. We will let you know ahead of time if this is the case. With video hearings, we can make the hearing more convenient for you. Often an appearance by video hearing can be scheduled faster than an in-person appearance. Also, a video hearing location may be closer to your home. That might make it easier for you to have witnesses or other people accompany you.

It is usually to your advantage to attend the hearing (in person or video conference). You and your representative, if you have one, should come to the hearing and explain your case.

If you are unable to attend a hearing or do not wish to do so, you must tell us why in writing as soon as you can. Unless the administrative law judge believes your presence is necessary to decide your case and requires you to attend, you will not have to go. Or we may be able to make other arrangements for you, such as changing the time or place of your hearing. You have to have a good reason for us to make other arrangements.

After the hearing, the judge will make a decision based on all the information in your case, including any new information you give. We will send you a letter and a copy of the judge’s decision.

3. Appeals Council

If you disagree with the hearing decision, you may ask for a review by Social Security’s Appeals Council. We will be glad to help you ask for this review.

The Appeals Council looks at all requests for review, but it may deny a request if it believes the hearing decision was correct. If the Appeals Council decides to review your case, it will either decide your case itself or return it to an administrative law judge for further review.

If the Appeals Council denies your request for review, we will send you a ­letter explaining the denial. If the Appeals Council reviews your case and makes a decision itself, we will send you a copy of the decision. If the Appeals Council returns your case to an administrative law judge, we will send you a letter and a copy of the order.

4. Federal Court

If you disagree with the Appeals Council’s decision or if the Appeals Council decides not to review your case, you may file a ­lawsuit in a federal district court. The letter we send you about the Appeals Council’s action also will tell you how to ask a court to look at your case.

Will my benefits continue?

In some cases, you may ask us to ­continue paying your benefits while we make a decision on your appeal. You can ask for your benefits to continue when:

• You are appealing our decision that you can no longer get Social Security ­disability benefits because your medical condition is not disabling; or
• You are appealing our decision that you are no longer eligible for SSI payments or that your SSI payment should be reduced or suspended.

If you want your benefits to continue, you must tell us within 10 days of the date you receive our letter. If your appeal is turned down, you may have to pay back any money you were not eligible to receive.

Can someone help me?

Yes. Many people handle their own Social Security appeals with free help from Social Security. But you can choose a lawyer, a friend or someone else to help you. Some­one you appoint to help you is called your “representative.” We will work with your representative just as we would work with you. Your representative can act for you in most Social Security matters and will receive a copy of any decisions we make about your claim.

Your representative cannot charge or ­collect a fee from you without first getting written approval from Social Security.

The request for an appeal must be made in writing within 60 days from the date you receive the unfavorable notice. Under certain conditions, Social Security may grant an extension of time to file an appeal.