To be eligible for this benefit program, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be unmarried.
- Meet the marriage duration requirement.
- Have in your care the deceased's child who is under age 16 or disabled and entitled to child's insurance benefits (for a surviving divorced mother or father the child must be their natural or legally adopted child).
- Not be entitled to a higher Social Security retirement benefit on your own record.
- Not be entitled to a widow's or widower's benefit.
- Be finally divorced from the deceased worker (Surviving Divorced Spouse Only).
Based on the information you gave about your marital status, the length of marriage to your deceased spouse and caring for your deceased spouse's child, you could get Social Security mother's or father's benefits if all of the following apply:
- Your former spouse had enough work credits.
- You are not getting a higher benefit on your own work record.
- The child in your care is also your child.