Information You'll Need When You Apply for the Lump-Sum Death Benefit

Whether it’s by phone or in person, we want your visit to go as smoothly as possible. You can help by being ready to answer the following questions and having as many of the needed documents as possible.

We may also ask you to provide documents to show that you are eligible:

• Birth certificate or other proof of birth;
• Naturalization papers;
• U.S. military discharge paper(s);
• W-2 forms(s) and/or self-employment tax returns for last year.

We accept photocopies of W-2 forms, self-employment tax returns or medical documents, but we must see the original of most other documents, such as your birth certificate. (We will return them to you.)

Don’t delay filing your claim just because you don’t have all the documents. We’ll help you get them.

When you apply for the death benefit, we will ask you:

• Your name and social security number;
• The deceased worker's name, gender, date of birth and social security number;
• The deceased worker's date and place of death;
• Whether the deceased worker ever filed for Social Security benefits, Medicare or Supplemental Security Income (if so, we will also ask for information on whose Social Security record he or she applied);
• Whether the deceased worker was unable to work because of illnesses, injuries or conditions at any time during the 14 months before his or her death (if "Yes," we will also ask when he or she became unable to work)
• Whether the deceased worker was ever in the active military service (if "Yes," we will also ask for the dates of his or her service)
• Whether the deceased worker worked for the railroad industry for 7 years or more;
• Whether the deceased worker earned social security credits under another country's social security system;
• The names, dates of birth (or age) and social security numbers (if known) of any of the deceased worker's former spouses and the dates of the marriages and how and when they ended;
• The names of any of the deceased worker's unmarried children under 18, 18-19 and in secondary school or disabled prior to age 22;
• The amount of the deceased worker's earnings in the year of death and the preceding year;
• Whether the deceased worker had a parent who was dependent on the worker for 1/2 of his or her support at the time of the worker's death; and
• Whether the deceased worker and surviving spouse were living together at the time of death.

If you are the surviving spouse, we will also ask:

• Whether you have been unable to work because of illnesses, injuries or conditions at any time within the past 14 months (if "Yes," we will also ask when you became unable to work);
• Whether you or anyone else ever filed for Social Security benefits, Medicare or Supplemental Security Income on your behalf (if so, we will also ask for information on whose Social Security record you applied); and
• The names, dates of birth (or age) and social security numbers (if known) of any of your former spouses and the dates of the marriages and how and when they ended.

If you are not the surviving spouse, we will also ask for the surviving spouse's name and address.

You also should bring along your checkbook or other papers that show your account number at a bank, credit union or other financial institution so you can sign up for Direct Deposit, and avoid worries about lost or stolen checks and mail delays.