In addition to retirement SSDI benefits, some Americans receive survivors’ benefits related to deceased retired workers. To qualify for retirement, you typically need to have worked for at least 10 years and accumulated a minimum of 40 work credits. However, for survivors, there’s often no requirement to have worked beforehand.
For instance, you may be eligible for Survivor’s Benefits as a widow or dependent. Occasionally, certain parents of deceased workers can also qualify, in addition to widows and children. Each of these social security payments varies in amount across the US, and it’s essential to note that when a retired worker passes away, their spouse or child may receive a one-time lump sum of $255.
Social Security Payment of $1,566 on July 16th
If you started collecting Social Security Survivors’ Benefits after April 30, 1997, payment days occur on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month. Consequently, you won’t receive monthly payments on the third day.
To determine your Wednesday payment schedule, check your birth date. If your birthday falls between the 1st and 10th of the month, you’ll get your payment on the first Wednesday. If you were born from the 11th to the 20th, your Social Security Payments for survivors will come on July 16, 2025. There are two payment methods available.
Payments can be made via paper check or Direct deposit. It’s essential to be aware that a new law will shift all federal payments to electronic methods. After September 30, 2025, Paper checks will no longer be issued.
Social Security survivors can receive payment on the 23rd
Survivors who began collecting payments after April 30, 1997, and have birthdays between the 21st and 31st of the month will receive their payments each month, specifically on July 23rd, 2025.
Just a reminder, it may take up to three days for these payments to arrive by mail, as banks and financial institutions can processing times longer than anticipated. Hence, it would be wise to wait three days before contacting your bank or the Social Security Bureau about any missing or delayed payments. Regardless of whether your payday is on July 16 or 23, the average amount for all survivors is $1,566.66.
Children of deceased workers receive about $1,139.18 on average from SSA. Additionally, widowed parents have an average payment of $1,314.10. A non-disabled widow (ER) typically gets around $1,863.71, which is the highest among survivors, while disabled widows (ERs) receive an average of $953.73.
It may surprise some that parents of deceased workers also qualify for Social Security benefits, averaging about $1,697.90. These statistics were shared in June and reflect data as of May 2025.
