Social Security Survivor Benefits in Ohio
Social Security Survivor Benefits in Ohio
When someone dies in Ohio, their surviving family members may be eligible for Social Security survivor benefits. These are federal benefits, not state benefits, but Ohio has unique considerations because of its large public employee retirement systems. This guide covers who qualifies, how much you may receive, how to apply, and how Ohio public pensions interact with Social Security.
The $255 Lump-Sum Death Payment
Social Security pays a one-time lump-sum death payment of $255. This is not automatic -- you must apply for it.
Who can receive it:
- The surviving spouse, if they were living in the same household as the deceased at the time of death
- If no eligible surviving spouse, a child who was already receiving Social Security benefits on the deceased's record
How to apply: Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or visit a local Social Security office. You can also apply using Form SSA-8. You have 2 years from the date of death to apply.
Important: The funeral home typically reports the death to Social Security, but this does not trigger the $255 payment. You must apply separately.
Monthly Survivor Benefits
Survivor benefits are monthly payments to eligible family members based on the deceased's Social Security earnings record. The amount depends on the deceased's lifetime earnings and the survivor's age and relationship.
Who Is Eligible
Surviving spouse:
- Age 60 or older (50 or older if disabled)
- Any age if caring for the deceased's child who is under 16 or disabled
Surviving divorced spouse:
- Age 60 or older (50 or older if disabled)
- Marriage to the deceased lasted at least 10 years
Unmarried children:
- Under age 18 (or 19 if a full-time student in high school)
- Any age if disabled before age 22
Dependent parents:
- Age 62 or older
- Were receiving at least half their support from the deceased
Benefit Amounts
| Survivor | Maximum Benefit |
|---|---|
| Surviving spouse at full retirement age | 100% of the deceased's benefit |
| Surviving spouse at age 60 | 71.5% of the deceased's benefit |
| Surviving spouse at any age caring for child under 16 | 75% of the deceased's benefit |
| Each eligible child | 75% of the deceased's benefit |
| Surviving divorced spouse at full retirement age | 100% of the deceased's benefit |
| Each dependent parent (if both parents qualify) | 75% each |
| One dependent parent | 82.5% of the deceased's benefit |
Family maximum. There is a cap on the total amount a family can receive from one person's record, typically 150% to 180% of the deceased's benefit. If total benefits exceed the family maximum, each person's benefit is reduced proportionally.
Full retirement age for survivors. Full retirement age for survivor benefits depends on the survivor's birth year. For those born in 1962 or later, full retirement age is 67. Taking benefits before full retirement age results in a permanently reduced monthly amount.
Returning the Month-of-Death Payment
If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, the payment for the month of death must be returned. Social Security benefits are paid for the prior month (a payment received in April covers March). If the person died in March, the April payment must be returned.
Do not spend a Social Security payment received after the person's death. If a direct deposit has already been made, the bank may be required to return the funds. Contact SSA immediately to avoid complications.
Ohio Public Pensions and Social Security
Ohio has several large public employee retirement systems. Many Ohio public employees (teachers, state workers, police, firefighters) paid into these systems instead of Social Security.
Ohio's public retirement systems:
- OPERS (Ohio Public Employees Retirement System)
- STRS (State Teachers Retirement System)
- SERS (School Employees Retirement System)
- OP&F (Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund)
- Highway Patrol Retirement System
WEP and GPO -- Eliminated January 5, 2025
Two provisions historically reduced Social Security benefits for people who also received public pensions:
Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP): Reduced the worker's own Social Security benefit if they also received a public pension from employment not covered by Social Security.
Government Pension Offset (GPO): Reduced Social Security spouse or survivor benefits by two-thirds of the public pension amount.
Both WEP and GPO were eliminated on January 5, 2025 by the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023. This is a significant change for Ohio families.
What this means for Ohio survivors: If the deceased received a pension from OPERS, STRS, SERS, OP&F, or the Highway Patrol system, surviving spouses are now eligible for full Social Security survivor benefits without the GPO reduction. Contact SSA to ensure your benefits are calculated correctly under the new law.
Each Public Pension System Has Its Own Survivor Benefits
In addition to Social Security, each Ohio public retirement system provides its own survivor benefits. These are separate from Social Security and must be claimed separately.
Contact the applicable system directly:
- OPERS: opers.org, 1-800-222-7377
- STRS: strsoh.org, 1-888-227-7877
- SERS: ohsers.org, 1-800-878-5853
- OP&F: op-f.org, 1-888-864-8363
Each system has specific eligibility rules, benefit amounts, and application procedures. If the deceased was a member of one of these systems, contact them promptly.
How to Apply for Survivor Benefits
You cannot apply for survivor benefits online. You must call or visit in person.
- Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778). Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM local time.
- Visit a local Social Security office. Find locations at ssa.gov/locator.
- Gather required documents:
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Social Security numbers for the deceased and the survivor
- Birth certificate of the survivor
- Marriage certificate (for surviving spouse claims)
- Divorce decree (for surviving divorced spouse claims)
- W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns for the most recent year
- Bank account information for direct deposit
When to apply: Apply as soon as possible after the death. Benefits may be retroactive for up to 6 months, but there is no retroactive payment beyond that. Delaying your application could mean lost benefits.
Remarriage Rules
Surviving spouse: If you remarry before age 60, you lose eligibility for survivor benefits on your deceased spouse's record. If you remarry at age 60 or later, you can still collect survivor benefits.
Surviving divorced spouse: Same rules apply. Remarriage before 60 ends eligibility; remarriage at 60 or later does not.
If your current marriage ends (by death, divorce, or annulment), you may regain eligibility for survivor benefits on the earlier spouse's record.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Social Security death benefit? $255, paid as a one-time lump sum. You must apply within 2 years of death. It goes to the surviving spouse living in the same household or to an eligible child.
Can I collect both survivor benefits and my own Social Security? Not both at full value simultaneously. If you are eligible for both, SSA pays your own benefit first. If the survivor benefit is higher, SSA pays a supplemental amount to bring your total up to the survivor benefit level. You can switch between benefits at different ages to maximize your lifetime payments.
Do I need to report the death to Social Security? The funeral home typically reports the death. However, call SSA to confirm the death was reported, to apply for the $255 payment, and to start the survivor benefits application process.
Are survivor benefits taxable? Social Security survivor benefits may be subject to federal income tax if your combined income exceeds certain thresholds. Ohio also taxes Social Security income for higher earners, though Ohio provides a credit for taxpayers with lower adjusted gross incomes.
What to Do Next
After applying for Social Security survivor benefits, work through the remaining tasks in the complete guide to what to do when someone dies in Ohio. If the deceased had a pension from an Ohio public retirement system, contact that system separately.
Kaira organizes every step for your state -- deadlines, forms, and next actions -- so nothing gets missed. See how it works.
This guide was researched using Social Security Administration policies and Ohio public pension information current as of April 2026. Benefit amounts and rules change. Contact SSA at 1-800-772-1213 for your specific situation.
Sources: Social Security Administration (ssa.gov); Social Security Fairness Act of 2023; OPERS (opers.org); STRS Ohio (strsoh.org); SERS (ohsers.org); OP&F (op-f.org)