Survivor benefits is a term applied to the Social Security benefits paid unto the survivor or survivors of the original recipient. The possible recipients of survivor benefits include widows, widowers, divorced widows and widowers, children and dependent parents. Children may refer, under specific circumstances, to step children, step grandchildren, grandchildren and even adopted children. To receive survivor benefits, the applicant must undergo a process set out in the guidelines provided by Social Security. If they are claiming the survivor benefits as a spouse, the individual needs to provide data regarding the work history and demise of the husband or wife. A death certificate and proof of age are mandatory. A widow or widower can only receive survivor benefits if she or he is age 66 (if born between 1945 and 1956) or age 67 (born after 1962). If the surviving spouse desires, he or she can start receiving benefits at age 60. Survivor benefits for the wife at this earlier option will not be the full amount. Dependent parents can also claim survivor benefits if the deceased individual was responsible for a minimum of ﾽ of their upkeep. Children can also apply if they are unmarried and less than 18 (19 if they are still attending school fulltime) or at any age and have a severe disability.