Hobart Survivor Benefits Lawyer

When a family member who receives Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits dies, their family may be able to get money to help them. This is called survivor benefits. Getting these benefits can really help during a hard time. But figuring out if someone can get them and how to apply can be confusing.

If someone is a surviving spouse, child or parent who depended on someone in Hobart, Indiana or nearby areas, they may have rights to these benefits. At Joseph Nugent, Attorney at Law, we understand how important this is for families. They are here to help people get the benefits they deserve.

What Happens When The Person Receiving Disability Payments Dies?

This depends on whether the person in question was getting Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSD benefits instead go to one’s spouse, children or even elderly, dependent parents, at which point they are called survivors’ benefits. Surviving family members don’t get SSI benefits because these are not based on earnings during the recipient’s work life.

Spouse And Ex-Spouse Benefits

If your spouse receives SSDI benefits and dies, you may be eligible to receive widow’s or widower’s benefits. There are many rules about who is eligible and what portion of the original benefit amount they can receive.

Important considerations for spousal survivor benefits include:

• Your survivor benefits may be higher than what your deceased spouse was receiving.
• If you’re caring for the deceased’s child under 16, your benefits end when that child turns 16.
• Working while receiving survivor benefits may reduce your payments, depending on your age and income.
• Divorced spouses can also qualify for survivor benefits if they meet certain requirements.

Understanding these spousal benefit rules is crucial for maximizing your potential survivor benefits.

Do Children Get Benefits?

Surviving children may also be eligible for various types of benefits depending on their age and circumstances. For example:

• Children under 18 may qualify for benefits if the family income is low enough.
• Adult disabled children can receive benefits based on a parent’s work record.
• Grandchildren and stepgrandchildren may also be eligible under specific circumstances.

Each child’s situation is unique. Determining eligibility requires careful review of specific circumstances and documentation.

Call The Social Security Survivors’ Benefits Attorney

Northwest Indiana survivor benefits lawyer Joseph Nugent can explain these and other intricacies in disability benefits law and whether they apply to your situation. Call him at his Hobart office at 219-945-9766. You can also write him a quick note describing your problem.