Increased Fatality Rate in Road Accidents Relative to Social Security Claims

The ever-increasing rate of accidents in California always results in many casualties. According to the findings of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there had been 3,090 traffic fatalities in this state solely in 2009. 

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Surely, many families have lost a loved one in one of these road mishaps. Some may even be left to fend for themselves, while others are burdened with various financial problems especially if the victim is regarded as the person who provides for the basic needs of the family.

Fortunately, the government is able to provide assistance to the survivors of the deceased who died in these accidents. In particularly, the Social Security Administration (SSA) provides qualified individuals Social Security benefits.

Basically, the SSA is responsible for managing the social insurance programs that provide disability, retirement and survivors’ benefits. In order to be qualified for these, employees must first pay the necessary Social Security taxes based on their salary. The benefit, which the workers will receive in the future, depends on amount of taxes paid during their times at work.

In particular, those who are considered as “survivors” are commonly the spouse or the child of the employee who was killed in the accident. Based on the SSA’s requirements, the employee must have worked long enough to qualify for social security benefits.

Since the SSA is also known for denying applications, it would be best for the family to hire the services of any of the Los Angeles Social Security Claim Lawyers.  

As stated in the SSA website, an employee shall earn up to four work credits annually. Here is an example: in 2012, a spouse may earn one credit for each $1,130 of wages or self-employment income. Therefore, when a spouse earns $4,520, then he or she had received the four work credits in a year.

In addition, the number of credits that are needed for the survivors to be entitled benefits will depend on the age of the employee at the time of his or her death. Normally, the younger the deceased is, the fewer the credits that would be provided for the family. However, not a single person is required to have more than 40 credits (10 years of work) to be eligible for any benefits from the Social Security.