Jane Burigsay, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Hawai‘i

  • SSA Benefits Toolkits Explained

    Losing a spouse is difficult emotionally and financially. The Social Security Administration (SSA) can help during this time. When your spouse passes away, you may be able to get benefits as a surviving spouse — even if you’re divorced.

    You may be eligible for survivor benefits if:

    • You are age 60 or older (or 50-plus, if disabled).
    • You are caring for your deceased spouse’s child under 16 or with a disability.
    • Children and some divorced spouses may also qualify.
    • Working and benefits: You can work and receive survivor benefits, but earnings limits apply if you’re under full retirement age.

    How much can you get as a surviving spouse?

    Survivor benefits range from 71.5% to 100% of your spouse’s benefit, depending on your age when you apply. When your spouse dies, we recommend you call SSA right away at 1-800-772-1213 about our $255 lump sum death payment. You’ll also want to discuss monthly benefits for you and your family.

    Call us to apply for benefits:

    You can apply for both the lump sum death payment and monthly benefits at the same time by calling 1-800-772-1213. You cannot apply for survivor benefits online. If you already receive spouse benefits, you’ll be automatically converted to survivor benefits, but you should still call us for the lump sum payment.

    If your former spouse dies…

    You may qualify as a surviving divorced spouse if:

    • You were married at least 10 years, even if your spouse remarried.
    • You are at least age 60 (or 50, if disabled).
    • You are single, unless your remarriage occurred after age 60.

    You must also keep in mind:

    You may be able to work and get survivor benefits. It depends on your age and how much you’re earning. If you’re younger than full retirement age, you’re subject to an earnings limit.

    If you already receive retirement or disability benefits on your own work record, you may be due survivor benefits if they’re greater than your own. You won’t receive both — you’ll get the higher amount.

    Check out our Survivors Benefits publication and page at ssa.gov/survivor.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10084.pdf. Call SSA if you have questions or to schedule an appointment for yourself or a child. Share this information with your family, friends and on social media.

    For more information on SSA benefits, including who is eligible and how to apply, visit ssa.gov/benefits. To make an appointment, call between 7am and 5pm, Mon–Fri: 1-800-772-1213 | socialsecurity.gov

    Losing a spouse is difficult emotionally and financially. The Social Security Administration (SSA) can help during this time. When your spouse passes away, you may be able to get benefits as a surviving spouse — even if you’re divorced. You may be eligible for survivor benefits if: How much can you get as a surviving…

  • SSA Issues Imposter Scam Alert

    Social Security (SS) imposter scams continue to be widespread across the United States. Scammers use tactics to deceive you into providing sensitive information or money. If you receive a suspicious letter, text, email or call, do not respond.

    SSA WILL NEVER:

    • Text or email images of an employee’s official government identification
    • Suspend your SS number
    • Threaten you with arrest or other legal action unless you immediately pay a fine or fee
    • Require payment by retail gift card, wire transfer, internet currency or cash by mail
    • Promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment
    • Mail or email “official” letters or reports containing your personal information

    WE ONLY SEND TEXT MESSAGES IN LIMITED SITUATIONS, INCLUDING:

    • When you have subscribed to receive updates and notifications by text
    • As part of our enhanced security when accessing your personal my Social Security account

    If you owe money to us, we will mail you a letter with payment options and appeal rights. SS employees do contact the public by telephone for business purposes. Ordinarily, the agency calls people who have recently applied for a SS benefit, are already receiving payments and require an update to their record or have requested a phone call from the agency. If there is a problem with a person’s SS number or record, SS will mail a letter.

    Report suspected SS imposter scams and other SS fraud by going to the Office of the Inspector General’s website: oig.ssa.gov/report. Find more information about scams at ssa.gov/scam. Please share this information with your friends, family and colleagues to help spread awareness about Social Security imposter scams.

    For more SSA information, call 7am–5pm, Mon–Fri:
    1-800-772-1213 (toll free) | socialsecurity.gov
    Your COLA Notice

    Individuals who have a personal my Social Security account can view their COLA notice online, which is secure and faster than receiving a letter in the mail. Users can also receive text or email alerts when there is a new message waiting for them, including a COLA notice. Set up a my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount.

    SSA ONLINE SERVICE HOURS
    Eastern Standard Time
    Mon– Fri 4:15am–1am
    Sat 5am–11pm
    Sun 8am–11:30pm
    SSA COLA: ssa.gov/cola
    ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/colafacts2025.pdf
    SSA Full Retirement Age Chart:
    ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/agereduction.html
    Medicare & You 2025:
    publications/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf

    Social Security (SS) imposter scams continue to be widespread across the United States. Scammers use tactics to deceive you into providing sensitive information or money. If you receive a suspicious letter, text, email or call, do not respond. SSA WILL NEVER: WE ONLY SEND TEXT MESSAGES IN LIMITED SITUATIONS, INCLUDING: If you owe money to…

  • SSA Benefits Toolkits Explained

    We’ve released new resources to help you better understand Social Security benefits. We’ve designed easy-to-use toolkits to provide education about our programs for children and our benefits for families after the death of a loved one. Our School Professional and Survivor Benefits toolkits are downloadable PDFs that include ready-to-go communications, such as sample email blasts, newsletter articles, hand-outs and social media posts.

    SCHOOL PROFESSIONAL TOOLKIT

    The School Professional Toolkit at ssa.gov/marketing/assets/materials/toolkit-ss-benefits-and-ssi-payments-for-children.pdf is for teachers, school counselors and other educators. The purpose of this toolkit is to educate parents and guardians about the financial help we provide. We make payments to students with disabilities and to those who have experienced the loss of a parent or have a parent who is receiving retirement or disability benefits.

    The toolkit discusses the following:

    • Eligibility requirements
    • How to apply
    • How to respond to requests for school records and forms
    • Evidence we need from school professionals to determine whether a child with a disability may be eligible for SSI

    SURVIVORS BENEFITS TOOLKIT

    The Survivors Benefits Toolkit at ssa.gov/marketing/assets/materials/toolkit-ss-survivors-benefit.pdf is for funeral homes, care facilities and other organizations working with people who have lost a loved one. This toolkit increases awareness about survivors benefits for eligible family members. We make monthly payments to surviving spouses, minor children, adult children with disabilities and dependent parents of workers who paid Social Security taxes before they died.

    The toolkit discusses the following:

    • Eligibility requirements
    • How to apply
    • Evidence for processing applications

    For more information about our toolkits, visit the blog post titled “New Resources for School Employees and Survivors” at blog.ssa.gov/new-resources-to-educate-school-employees-and-survivors. Please help us spread the word about our tool-kits with your colleagues and others who may find them helpful.

    For more information on SSA benefits, including who is eligible and how to apply, visit ssa.gov/benefits. To make an appointment, call between 7am and 5pm, Mon–Fri: 1-800-772-1213 | socialsecurity.gov

    We’ve released new resources to help you better understand Social Security benefits. We’ve designed easy-to-use toolkits to provide education about our programs for children and our benefits for families after the death of a loved one. Our School Professional and Survivor Benefits toolkits are downloadable PDFs that include ready-to-go communications, such as sample email blasts,…