Arizona Social Security Survivor Benefits
Of the 940,213 residents in Arizona who received payments from the Social Security Administration in 2006, 76, 392 were widows and widowers who received survivors benefits (see Resource 1). The SSA pays your spouse, children and even ex-spouse survivors benefits when you pass away. Benefit amounts are based on your earnings record and are paid out tax-free. You can receive survivors payments as well if your current or ex-spouse passes away.
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San Francisco Region
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Survivors beneficiaries living in Arizona receive are among the 7.8 million people of the SSA's San Francisco Region serving the western United States. Three other states -- California, Nevada and Hawaii -- as well as American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are included in the region where beneficiaries receive over $92 billion in Social Security payments each year. There are 162 field offices and six telephone centers throughout the San Francisco Region assisting current beneficiaries and new applicants.
Eligibility for Survivorship Benefits
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You qualify for survivors benefits if you meet the federal agency's work credit requirements and have paid into Social Security while you worked. Work credits are earned for every $1,120 you earn in a year. Each work credit made represents three months of earnings and the maximum amount you can earn in a year is four. The minimum amount of credits you need to qualify is 40 but if you are young and die before reaching this requirement, your family is still able to receive survivors benefits.
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Benefit Amounts
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Survivors benefits paid to your family are based on your earnings record. Your spouse and dependent children and ex-spouse are all entitled to benefits based on you. Each member's benefit amount is dependent upon the total sum paid to your current family and cannot exceed 180 percent of your full benefit amount. The amount received by your divorced spouse, which is the same as your current spouse, doesn't affect your family's benefits.
Your Survivors Benefits
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You can receive survivor's benefits if your spouse, who qualifies for benefits based on her earnings record, passes away. Full or reduced survivor's benefits are paid to you once you turn 60 years of age or 50 if you are disabled. If you decide to remarry, you are still eligible to receive benefits from your deceased spouse's record if you marry again after age 60. You are also eligible for survivor's benefits based on your divorced spouse's earning record. However, you must have been married to her for at least 10 years to qualify.
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References
Resources
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