For many Americans today, Social Security is one of their most substantial retirement assets. In fact, nearly all U.S. workers and their families will qualify for some benefits under the system, originally enacted in 1935. Social Security benefits can be viewed as a portion of the “replacement income” that people need once they decide to retire.
While it is certainly a topic that is difficult for many of us to contemplate, what happens when we succumb to the inevitable and depart this life? What benefits under the Social Security program are available for surviving partners and children? Do parents of the deceased qualify for benefits?