Hello I have a question I received a letter in the mail right after my mom passed away saying something about collecting her benefits I didn't know I was eligible to collect my mother's benefits I have her birth certificate and death certificate in the letter I received said also wanting a copy of the marriage license between her and my dad I have no way of getting that what should I do

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

I'm not sure what the letter you mention refers to. You could only qualify to collect survivor benefits from your mother's record if you're unmarried, and you're either under age 18, age 18 to 19 and attending high school, or disabled and your disability began before age 22. Social Security wouldn't need proof of your parents' marriage in order for you to claim survivor benefits as a child, though, so I assume that the letter must be referring to something else.

About the only thing I can think of is that maybe Social Security has determined that your mother was potentially eligible for additional spousal or survivor benefits that weren't paid prior to her death. If it's something like that then maybe you would be eligible as an heir to collect the amount of benefits that your mother was underpaid.

If you do need to obtain a copy of your parents' marriage certificate you can probably get one from the vital statistics office in the state where they were married, but if I was you I would first contact Social Security to have them explain the letter to you and to ask them why they need your parents' marriage proof.

Best, Jerry