By Dominic Genetti
Jacksonville Journal-Courier, Ill.
(TNS)
Sep. 17 — A bill filed in the U.S. House of Representatives Sept. 16 would benefit spouses, family members and dependents seeking survivor benefits from the Social Security Administration.
Currently, people seeking survivor benefits must either call the Social Security Administration to apply or visit a local Social Security office. But bipartisan House Bill 10428 would modernize the process by creating an online application for eligible survivors.
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kan., introduced the measure. U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., is a co-sponsor.
In a joint press release, Davids and Evans said other federal programs offer streamlined digital services, but the Social Security Administration has not progressed beyond paper-based applications and manual scheduling. They said the current application process leads to extended processing delays, crowded field offices and unnecessary stress for families facing the sudden loss of a loved one.
“When a family loses a parent, spouse, or breadwinner, the last thing they should have to deal with is a maze of administrative red tape just to access the benefits their loved one earned through a lifetime of hard work,” Davids said in a statement. “My casework team will always help Kansans recover backlogged federal benefits—including Social Security—but families shouldn’t have to turn to their representatives’ offices just to get the benefits they’ve earned. This bipartisan bill would make it easier for families to get those benefits on their own, without having to navigate unnecessary hurdles during an already difficult time.”
The Survivor Benefits Application Modernization Act would require the SSA to:
- Establish an Online Self-Scheduling Portal: Within 180 days of enactment, the SSA Commissioner must launch an online system allowing applicants for survivor benefits to independently schedule appointments.
- Develop Online Application Filing: Within one year of enactment, the Social Security Administration must enable beneficiaries to complete and submit their survivor benefits applications directly through the secure online portal.
- Report on Efficiency and Integrity: Requires the Social Security Administration to submit a report to Congress within three years detailing application processing trends, administrative cost savings, and fraud and identity theft instances.
“When families experience the loss of a loved one, the last thing they should have to deal with is red tape and complications when accessing the benefits they are owed,” Evans added in his own statement. “I’m proud to co-lead the bipartisan Survivor Benefits Applications Modernization Act to ensure grieving families have faster access to the resources and services they need during difficult times.”
Here is how Social Security survivor benefits are paid out:
- Surviving spouse: Could get 71.5% to 100% of the deceased worker’s basic benefit.
- Spouse caring for the deceased worker’s child: May receive about 75% of the worker’s benefit. This generally applies when the child is younger than 16 or has a disability.
- Children: May receive about 75% of the deceased worker’s benefit.
- Dependent parents: Can get up to 75% of the deceased worker’s benefit.
- Family maximum: If multiple family members qualify, Social Security could reduce the payments because there is a limit on how much the family can receive from one worker’s record.
- Separate death payment: An eligible surviving spouse or child may also qualify for a one-time $255 payment.
The actual amount of survivor benefits depends on the survivor’s relationship to the deceased worker, age, disability status and the number of family members receiving benefits.
After being introduced, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Photo credit: Social Security Administration/Instagram
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© 2026 the Jacksonville Journal-Courier (Jacksonville, Ill.). Visit www.myjournalcourier.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.
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