Were you in a same-sex relationship with a partner who passed away? If so, you may qualify for Social Security survivors’ benefits based on your partner’s earnings record.
You may qualify for survivors’ benefits if you meet any of the following:
- You would have been married at the time of your partner’s death if unconstitutional state laws hadn’t prevented you from marrying.
- You would have been married longer, but unconstitutional state laws prevented you from marrying sooner.
If you think you may be entitled to benefits, contact the Social Security Administration by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or contact your local Social Security office.
After you apply, you can check the status of your application with your personal my Social Security account. If you don’t have a personal my Social Security account, you can create one in just a few minutes.
Other LGBTQ+ resources from the Social Security Administration:
If you know someone who may meet the requirements for survivors benefits, please share this information with them.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration.
We hope this information is helpful to you in the important work you do as a family caregiver.
For more resources, subscribe to our free eNewsletter!
