Gov. Tim Walz's Personal Story: How Social Security Survivor Benefits Lifted His Family From Financial Ruin

When Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz accepted the Democratic vice presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention, he spoke extensively about Social Security survivor benefits, particularly how this program personally affected his family. 

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When Walz was 19 years old, his father died of lung cancer, leaving his family with "a mountain of medical debt," as Walz put it. He posted on Instagram that Social Security "gave my family the chance to live with dignity," and that he and Kamala Harris will protect Social Security and programs that stop people from falling through the cracks. 

Walz emphasized the importance of ensuring that children and families going through similar circumstances are aware of or claim their survivor benefits. 

Social Security Commissioner Martin O'Malley noted that many children don't claim their survivor benefits. In fact, the SSA estimates that if a working parent dies, 98 out of 100 children in the U.S. would be eligible for benefits, yet many people may not be aware of this. 

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The death of a parent is already traumatizing and difficult enough to work through emotionally, but it can also have financial, health, and educational impacts on children. According to the SSA, these benefits – which average around $1,103 per month – can help alleviate at least some of the financial stressors on a child and eligible surviving parents. 

According to the Social Security Administration, about 3.7 million children receive Social Security benefits. 

For a child to receive benefits, they must have a parent who is retired or has a disability that entitles them to Social Security, or they must have a parent who died after working long enough in a job where they paid Social Security taxes. Unmarried children can receive these benefits if they are younger than 18, between ages 18 and 19 and a full-time student in grade 12 or below, or 18 and older with a disability that began before they turned 22. 

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Despite the importance of these benefits, there remains a significant gap in awareness and utilization. Data suggests that many children who qualify for survivor benefits do not receive them, potentially leaving them vulnerable to financial hardship. 

Joyal Mulheron, founder and executive director of Evermore, a nonpartisan nonprofit focused on improving the lives of grieving people, highlights that as many as half of orphaned children in the U.S. eligible for Social Security benefits are not receiving them.

To address this issue, the Social Security Administration has been working to identify these families and develop targeted approaches to reach them. Initiatives include sending information letters to households with potential applicants, launching a new webpage dedicated to survivor benefits, and collaborating with states and communities to raise awareness. For example, Utah has added a checkbox on death reporting forms to indicate if the deceased has a minor child, making it easier to connect eligible families with the benefits they deserve.

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Gov. Walz's story powerfully reminds us of the critical role Social Security survivor benefits play in supporting families during their most challenging times. By sharing his experience, Walz hopes to encourage more families to seek out and claim the benefits they are entitled to, ensuring that no child is left without the financial support they need after losing a parent.

For those who may be facing similar circumstances or know someone who is, it's essential to understand the benefits available through Social Security. Consulting a financial advisor can be crucial in navigating these options and ensuring that all eligible benefits are claimed, providing much-needed support to families in their time of need.

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