Most people don’t know that the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers a one-time death benefit of $255. This benefit is paid to the surviving spouse or minor child of a deceased worker who was covered by Social Security. If there is no surviving spouse or child‚ the benefit is instead paid to the deceased worker’s parents. The death benefit is intended to help cover funeral and other final expenses. It is paid in a lump sum and is not taxable. To qualify for the death benefit‚ you must apply for it within two years of the date of death. You will need to provide proof of death‚ such as a copy of the death certificate‚ as well as proof of your relationship to the deceased. If you are eligible for the death benefit‚ you can receive it even if you are not receiving any other benefits from Social Security.
What is the Social Security Death Benefit?
When a person dies‚ the Social Security Administration (SSA) pays a death benefit to the surviving spouse or minor children. The death benefit is a one-time payment of $255.
To qualify for the death benefit‚ the deceased must have worked long enough to be covered by Social Security and paid into the system. The SSA will only pay the death benefit to qualifying survivors.
If you are the surviving spouse‚ you can apply for the death benefit online‚ by phone‚ or in person at your local SSA office. If you are not the surviving spouse but are a qualifying child‚ you can also apply for the death benefit online or by phone. However‚ if you are applying as a child‚ you will need to provide proof of your relationship to the deceased.
Who is Eligible for the Social Security Death Benefit?
To be eligible for the Social Security Death Benefit‚ you must be the deceased worker’s spouse‚ child‚ or parent. You must also be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien.
If you are the surviving spouse‚ you must be:
- Unremarried
- Age 60 or older
- Age 50 or older and disabled
- Any age if you are caring for a child of the deceased who is under age 16 or disabled
If you are the child of the deceased‚ you must be:
- Unmarried and under age 18
- Age 18 or 19 and a full-time student in elementary or secondary school
- Any age if you are disabled and became disabled before age 22
How Much is the Social Security Death Benefit?
The Social Security Death Benefit is a one-time payment of $255 that is paid to the surviving spouse or minor child of a deceased worker who was covered by Social Security. If there is no surviving spouse or child‚ the benefit is paid to the deceased worker’s parents. To receive the benefit‚ you must apply for it within two years of the death.
How to Apply for the Social Security Death Benefit?
If you are the surviving spouse‚ child‚ or parent of a Social Security beneficiary‚ you may be eligible for a one-time death benefit payment. The amount of the death benefit is $255.
To apply for the Social Security death benefit‚ you will need to provide the following information:
- Your Social Security number
- The deceased person’s Social Security number
- Proof of death (such as a death certificate)
- Your relationship to the deceased person
- The deceased person’s most recent address and zip code
- Your Bank account information for direct deposit
You can apply for the Social Security Death Benefit online‚ by calling 1-800-772-1213‚ or by visiting your local Social Security office.
Conclusion
If you are the surviving spouse of a deceased person who was receiving Social Security benefits‚ you may be eligible for the $255 death benefit. To apply‚ you will need to provide proof of your marriage to the deceased person‚ as well as their death certificate. You can apply for the benefit online‚ by phone‚ or by visiting your local Social Security office.
