My father never married my mother, they lived together for more than fifty years. My father passed away October 27, 2013. Can my mother collect Social Security benefits even though they weren't married?
By Daniel
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Call your local Social Security Office and talk to them. They are the only ones that know the correct answer.
Hi - your mother should go to your local Social Security office as soon as possible because she may be losing benefits right now.
They will tell her what type of documentation she needs to file for his benefits (if he worked). I believe she may have to hire an attorney to get things done in a short time. I hope your fathers name was on your birth certificate.
Good luck and don't forget - ASAP.
Go to the Social Security website and in the search box type in "common law marriage". It discusses the topic. I didn't read it all but since he is dead it may be too late. But go there and see what you can find. Hope this helps.
weinerdog41 has a good point about "common law marriage" and there is a lot of information concerning this subject on the SS web site. The problem is that cases etc. can be very confusing and each one is a different situation.
A SS decision will be based on where you live (and where you lived at the time of cohabitation) as well as many other factors.
I believe this person should hire an attorney that specializes in SS benefits before she actually files as every statement made to the SS office will be recorded and just one incorrect comment could cause a lot of trouble in getting a good decision.
There is a child in this relationship and that many times acts in the persons favor - even if the child is now an adult.
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