Social Security after a tenant's spouse dies

[Ryan Irwin]

I have two tenants who are married and both are retired and on social security.  Unfortunately, one of the tenants health is not good and is currently in hospice.  They haven't been married for nine months (only seven months), so the standard SSA married survivor benefits aren't in place.  

They have been great tenants and I want to exhaust all the options to help them out.

My question is, has anyone seen any ways that the surviving spouse could receive some portion of their spouses SSI in this scenario (married less than nine months)?  Any other options for rent assistance/financial aid that might be available?  

[Kevin Sobilo]

@Ryan Irwin, is it SSI?

That is different than a normal Social Security retirement benefit. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a need based program for people who never worked enough to earn a retirement benefit. 

If it is SSI, it is need based with a relatively LOW limit of assistance. So, if the surviving spouse is on SSI, they may be able to do back and document their change in living circumstances showing they were splitting rent with someone before but that person died so now they have to pay it all. If they aren't maxed out on their benefit amount, their monthly benefit might increase a little.