Social Security Expands Support for Survivor Benefit Applicants

People calling to report a death or ask about survivor benefits are now connected faster to SSA staff specially trained to help with these claims.

Kelly McBride Ni

Published: 7/29/2026, 3:41:55 AM EDT

Social Security Expands Support for Survivor Benefit Applicants — A sign outside a Social Security Administration building in Lake Forest, Calif., on April 19, 2024. (Shutterstock)

The Social Security Administration (SSA) said it has made it easier for people to apply for survivor benefits by phone.

This comes as the SSA said it helped more than 60,000 survivors complete their claims since July 2025 without visiting an office.

People calling to report a death or ask about survivor benefits are now connected faster to SSA staff specially trained to help with these claims. The SSA said on July 28 that this change is meant to reduce delays for families during a difficult time.

“To better support customers applying for survivor benefits during a difficult time, we have enhanced our National 800 Number call routing process,” said Nick Perrine, SSA chief communications officer, in a letter to colleagues.

“Callers reporting a death or seeking to apply for survivor benefits are now connected more quickly to employees trained to assist with these requests.”

The SSA also added staff to its survivor claims team to help people get answers faster and avoid long waits.

“These changes help ensure that customers receive timely, specialized assistance while reducing wait times and minimizing the need for in-person office visits,” Perrine said.

Unlike other Social Security benefits, survivor benefits generally cannot be applied for online. Most people must call the SSA or schedule an appointment to apply.

The only thing that may happen automatically is if someone is already receiving spousal benefits—they are generally converted to survivor benefits automatically after the spouse's death, although the SSA still recommends calling about the $255 lump-sum death payment.

Survivor benefits may be available to surviving spouses age 60 or older or age 50 if they have a disability. People caring for a deceased spouse's child who is younger than 16 or has a disability also may qualify.

Some children and surviving divorced spouses are eligible if they meet Social Security requirements, and surviving spouses can generally receive between 71.5 percent and 100 percent of the deceased worker's benefit, depending on the age they begin claiming benefits, according to the SSA.

Broader Effort to Improve Customer Service

The expanded survivor benefits support is part of a broader effort by the SSA to improve customer service.

The administration said it has reduced the average wait time on its National 800 Number from 34 minutes in 2024 to about eight minutes in fiscal year 2026 to date, and shortened field office wait times by 30 percent.

SSA also reported completing 385 million online transactions in fiscal year 2026 to date and reducing its initial disability claims backlog by more than 30 percent.

The SSA is now in its 91st year and sends about 75 million payments each month, totaling around $1.6 trillion a year.

“Looking ahead, we will continue refining our call routing and staffing strategies to further improve customer service,” Perrine said.

SSA Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano took office in May 2025. At the start of his term, the SSA said it was working to cut long wait times, reduce service backlogs, and address other challenges by expanding digital services, modernizing technology, and giving employees more resources.