Question

adam, age 48, and mary, age 47, were married for 15 years when they divorced last year. adam died this year. they have two young children, ages 10 and 12, who are cared for by mary. adam's 70-year-old mother, sarah, also survived him. at the time of adam's death, he was currently, but not fully, insured under social security. what benefits are adam's survivors entitled to under the social security program?

Answer 1

Adam's young children are entitled to survivor benefits; Mary, as a surviving divorced spouse taking care of underage children, may also be eligible for benefits; and Sarah, the dependent elderly parent, could qualify for benefits.

Step-by-step explanation:

Under the Social Security program, Adam's survivors may be entitled to certain benefits. Since Adam was currently, but not fully, insured at the time of his death, there would be survivor benefits available for his qualifying family members.

• Adam's children, being under the age of 18, would likely be eligible for survivor benefits until they become adults or finish secondary school.
• Since Mary is caring for the children and they are under the age of 16, she may also qualify for benefits as a surviving divorced spouse until the youngest child turns 16.
• Adam's mother, Sarah, could be eligible for benefits as an aged dependent parent if she was dependent on Adam for at least half of her support.

The Social Security Act provides financial assistance to the elderly, survivors, and the disabled, helping individuals and families cope with loss of income due to retirement, disability, or death. Benefits are correlated with previous earnings, aiming to provide a financial safety net though not intended to be the sole source of income for retirees or survivors.