My wife was recently diagnosed with cancer at age 44. She asked me a question the other day that I never really thought about. What happens to her Social Security if she passes away early?

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear about your wife's diagnosis.

Unlike contributions to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) for example, the Social Security taxes collected on wages and self-employment earnings are simply that, a tax. Therefore, there is no guarantee that the Social Security taxes you pay will ever translate into entitlement to benefits.

That said, if your wife's cancer causes her to be unable to work she may qualify for Social Security disability benefits (SSDI). For more information about SSDI benefits and requirements, refer to the following Social Security publication: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10029.pdf.

Furthermore, there are a variety of benefits that can be paid to qualified survivors on the Social Security record a deceased individual, such as minor or disabled children and surviving spouses and former spouses. For more information on survivor benefits, refer to this Social Security website: https://www.ssa.gov/planners/survivors/.

Best, Jerry