Social Security Death Benefit: Who Can Claim the One-Time $255 Payment?

Social Security Death Benefit: When a Social Security-insured worker dies in the U.S., their family may be able to get a one-time payment of $255 from the Social Security Administration. This money is called the lump-sum death payment. It is separate from monthly survivor benefits, and a family may be able to get both. The SSA says survivors must apply within 2 years of the death. In practice, the surviving spouse is the first person SSA considers for this payment.

Who can get it?

A surviving spouse gets priority for the Social Security lump-sum death benefit. A spouse may qualify if they were living with the worker when the worker died. They may also qualify if they were living separately but were receiving, or were eligible to receive, benefits based on the worker’s Social Security record.

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If there is no eligible spouse, the payment may go to the worker’s eligible child or children.

A child may qualify if they are:

• 17 years old or younger.
• 18 to 19 years old and studying full-time in a K-12 school.
• Any age if they developed a disability at age 21 or earlier.

If more than one child qualifies, the $255 lump-sum death benefit is divided equally among all eligible children.

How to Claim it

SSA says you can start the application online on its death-payment page, or you can call 1-800-772-1213. The TTY number is 1-800-325-0778. You can also visit a local Social Security office. An appointment is not required, but SSA says making one can cut waiting time. The agency also says people should be ready to answer questions about themselves and about the worker who died.

What Papers do you need?

SSA may ask for:

• A birth certificate or other proof of birth, proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status
• Military discharge papers if service was before 1968
• W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns for last year
• Worker’s death certificate.

The agency says not to wait just because one paper is missing. It will help get the needed documents. For W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns, photocopies are accepted, but most other papers must be shown in original form.

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Monthly Survivor Benefits are Separate

The lump-sum payment does not replace monthly survivor benefits. SSA says some family members may also qualify for monthly payments, and a person can apply for both at the same time by calling SSA. If someone is already receiving spouse benefits, SSA will usually convert those to survivor benefits after the death is reported, but the family should still call about the lump-sum payment.