<prompt> Human: Thanks for reading.So like the title says, my Mom died last month, and my brothers and I kind of gathered around my Dad to help him with paperwork. One of the areas that I helped him with was survivors benefits. I read articles, listened to some podcasts, read the pamphlets, and generally took a lot of time to research it.My Mom and Dad both drew social security. My Mom was born in 1945 and my Dad in 1946. As I understand it and from what I read, that should mean that my Dad would draw 100 survivors benefits. Neither of them retired early.So I was very confused when the SSA told my Dad he couldnt draw from my Moms social security because he made more than her? I didnt see anything that stated that, and still havent now that Ive looked for it directly.Any advice?Assistant: You cant draw two social security benefits at once. If his benefit is higher, then thats what he gets. He doesnt get hers, too.But he can get the one-time death benefit of 255, which is hardly even worth the time to file. its so small because it was never pegged to inflation, and thus never increasedHuman: Is this when youre alive or just when one has died?Assistant: Well, my Dad draws 2400 a month and my Mom was drawing 1200 a month, so I guess its only when one has passed.  <response>: Its like that for everything though. If she had died back when they were both still working her employer wouldnt keep sending your dad checks. 