Social Security Death Benefits: What They Are and How to Claim Them

When someone close to you passes away, the last thing you need is confusion about benefits and paperwork. Yet here you are, trying to figure out what Social Security offers and whether your family qualifies. You need answers, not bureaucratic runarounds.

Here's what matters most: Social Security provides two distinct forms of support after a death. First, a one-time $255 payment that many families never claim because they don't know it exists. Second, monthly survivors benefits that can provide ongoing financial support based on the deceased person's work history.

This guide walks you through both benefits with specifics on who qualifies, what you can expect to receive, and exactly how to file your claim.

Understanding the Two Types of Death Benefits

Social Security death benefits come in two forms, each serving a different purpose.

The one-time lump-sum death payment provides $255 to help with immediate expenses. It's not automatic, and strict rules govern who receives it.

Monthly survivors benefits offer continuing income to eligible family members. These payments are based on what your loved one earned during their working years and can continue for months, years, or even indefinitely depending on your situation.

Both benefits go directly to qualifying family members, never to the deceased's estate. The distinction matters because eligibility rules, application processes, and timing requirements differ for each benefit type.

First Things First: Make Sure the Death Was Reported

Many funeral homes report deaths to Social Security when you provide them with the deceased's Social Security number. This updates official records and stops benefits the deceased was receiving.

But here's what surprises most people: reporting the death does not start your benefit application. These are separate processes.

Contact your funeral director to confirm they filed the report. If they didn't handle it or you're unsure, Social Security will help you report the death when you call to apply for benefits. Either way, don't wait. The sooner you start the claims process, the sooner benefits can begin.

The $255 Lump-Sum Payment: Small Amount, Strict Rules

This payment confuses people because the eligibility requirements are narrow and the deadline is firm.

Who receives the $255:

A surviving spouse who lived in the same household as the deceased at the time of death receives priority. That same-household requirement is non-negotiable. If no qualifying spouse exists, the payment goes to a child who's eligible for monthly benefits on the deceased's record.

The deadline you cannot miss:

You have two years from the date of death to apply. After that, the opportunity disappears completely.

When multiple family members might qualify, Social Security follows a priority system. The surviving spouse comes first if they meet the same-household requirement. If no spouse qualifies, an eligible child may receive the payment. The agency makes the final determination based on their records and your specific circumstances.

One critical point: this $255 is completely separate from monthly survivors benefits. Qualifying for one doesn't affect your eligibility for the other.

Who Qualifies for Monthly Survivors Benefits

Your relationship to the deceased determines whether you're eligible. Here's how it breaks down.

Surviving Spouses

You qualify at age 60 or older. If you're disabled, that age drops to 50.

Age becomes irrelevant if you're caring for the deceased's child who is under 16 or became disabled before age 22. In this situation, you receive benefits regardless of your age until the child turns 16 or no longer meets the disability requirements.

The definition of "child" extends beyond biological children to include stepchildren, grandchildren, step-grandchildren, and adopted children. Social Security evaluates your specific family structure to determine eligibility.

Divorced Spouses

Your ex-spouse's death doesn't erase your potential benefits if your marriage lasted at least 10 years. You remain eligible even if your ex-spouse remarried after your divorce.

The requirements:

You cannot have remarried before age 60, or before age 50 if you're disabled. Once you reach age 60, remarriage doesn't affect your eligibility on your ex's record.

You must meet the same age requirements as current spouses: age 60 or older, 50 if disabled, or any age while caring for a qualifying child.

Many divorced people assume they're automatically disqualified. They're often wrong.

Unmarried Children

Children receive benefits until age 18, or until 19 if they're full-time elementary or secondary school students.

Starting in 2026, a significant change extends benefits to age 22 for full-time students in high school, college, or vocational programs. This recognizes that most young adults now pursue education beyond high school.

Adult children who became disabled before age 22 can receive benefits indefinitely, as long as the disability continues.

Dependent Parents

If the deceased worker provided at least half of your financial support, you may qualify at age 62 or older. This applies less frequently but matters for families where adult children were primary caregivers for aging parents.

The Work Credit Requirement: Did They Work Long Enough?

Generally, a worker needs 40 work credits to make their family eligible for full survivors benefits. That translates to roughly 10 years of work.

But exceptions exist. If someone died young but earned about 6 credits in the three years before death, benefits may still be available to their children or to a spouse caring for those children.

Don't guess whether your loved one qualified. Social Security verifies work history quickly when you apply. Families frequently discover they're eligible even when they assumed otherwise.

What Monthly Benefits Actually Pay

Your benefit amount depends on the deceased worker's lifetime earnings. Social Security calculates a "primary insurance amount" based on those earnings, then pays survivors a percentage of that figure.

The system caps the total amount paid to all survivors on one record through something called the family maximum. For 2026, the calculation applies these formulas to the deceased's primary insurance amount:

• 150 percent of the first $1,643
• 272 percent of amounts between $1,643 and $2,371
• 134 percent of amounts between $2,371 and $3,093
• 175 percent of any amount over $3,093

All Social Security benefits received a 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment in January 2026, which helps offset inflation.

You don't need to calculate this yourself. Social Security computes the exact amount during your application. What matters: higher lifetime earnings typically mean higher survivors benefits, and if multiple family members receive benefits, they share the total available amount.

Working While Receiving Benefits: The Earnings Test

If you're under full retirement age and earning income, your benefits may be temporarily reduced. This isn't a tax but a benefit adjustment tied to how much you earn.

For 2026, the limits are:

$24,480 if you're under full retirement age all year. Social Security reduces your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn above this threshold.

$65,160 if you reach full retirement age during 2026. The reduction is $1 for every $3 earned over this amount, but only for months before your birthday.

Once you reach full retirement age, the earnings test disappears and your benefits are recalculated to account for any previously withheld months.

These limits apply only to your earnings, not to other family members receiving benefits on the same record.

Timing Matters More Than Most People Realize

Benefits start from your application date, not the date of death. That's the single most costly mistake families make.

Wait three months to apply? You lose three months of payments. Those months are gone forever.

The $255 lump-sum payment has a hard deadline of two years. Monthly benefits have no such cutoff, but every delay costs money.

Apply as soon as you have basic documents in hand. You can submit additional paperwork later if needed. Waiting for everything to be perfect only costs you benefits.

How to File Your Claim

Social Security requires a phone call or office visit. Online applications don't exist for death benefits or survivors benefits.

Call the national line:

1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778)

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time

Visit a local office:

Find one using the office locator at ssa.gov/locator and schedule an appointment.

Whether by phone or in person, a Social Security representative will interview you, collect your information, and provide a list of documents to submit. You'll also set up direct deposit, which delivers payments faster and more securely than paper checks.

Documents You'll Need

Gather these items before you call:

Death certificate proving the death occurred

Social Security numbers for the deceased and everyone applying for benefits

Birth certificates for spouses and children claiming benefits

Marriage certificate or divorce decree if applicable to your situation

Recent W-2s or tax returns from the deceased to verify earnings

Bank account information for setting up direct deposit

Missing something? Apply anyway. Social Security can suggest acceptable alternatives like religious records or other documentation. Don't let incomplete paperwork delay your claim.

Answers to Common Questions

"I already receive spousal benefits. What happens now?"

Social Security automatically converts your payment to a survivor benefit when your spouse dies. But you still need to contact them directly about the $255 lump-sum payment. That doesn't happen automatically.

"Multiple family members qualify. How does that work?"

The family maximum determines the total amount available, which gets divided among eligible survivors. A spouse caring for minor children typically receives benefits first, with children receiving their shares. The exact split depends on the calculation and each person's eligibility category.

"I'm under 60 but caring for my spouse's child who's 14. Do I qualify?"

Yes, at any age while caring for a child under 16 or a disabled child who became disabled before age 22. Your benefits stop when the child turns 16 unless you've reached age 60 by then. Plan ahead for this transition.

"I divorced and remarried after my ex-spouse died. Am I still eligible?"

If you remarried before age 60, you permanently lose eligibility on your ex's record. Remarrying after 60 doesn't affect your eligibility. This surprises many people, which is why confirming your specific circumstances with Social Security matters.

"The deceased only worked a few years. Is it worth applying?"

Yes. Special rules for young workers or recent employment might provide benefits even with limited work history. Social Security verifies eligibility quickly, and many families discover they qualify despite assumptions otherwise.

"I'm pre-planning my own affairs. What should I prepare?"

Keep these accessible: your Social Security number, marriage and divorce certificates, children's birth certificates, recent tax returns or W-2s, and your chosen funeral home's contact information. Tell a trusted family member where to find them.

Your Next Seven Days

Day 1: Confirm the funeral home reported the death. If not, you'll report it when you apply.

Day 2: List all potential survivors—spouse, ex-spouse, children, dependent parents.

Day 3: Collect documents from the list above. Get what you can now.

Day 4: Call 1-800-772-1213 to start your application or schedule an appointment.

Day 5: Ask specifically about both monthly survivors benefits and the $255 payment during your interview.

Day 6: If you work and haven't reached full retirement age, ask how the 2026 earnings limits affect you.

Day 7: Respond immediately to any document requests from Social Security.

Start Your Claim Today

Social Security offers two forms of death benefits. The $255 lump-sum payment helps with immediate costs but must be claimed within two years. Monthly survivors benefits provide ongoing support based on the deceased worker's earnings, but they start from your application date, not the date of death.

You cannot file online. Call 1-800-772-1213 or visit a local office.

Don't assume you're ineligible without checking. Social Security evaluates work credits, relationships, and circumstances that might surprise you. The benefits your loved one earned through years of work exist specifically for situations like yours.

The process feels overwhelming right now. That's normal. You don't need to have everything figured out before you call. Start with that first phone call. Social Security handles these claims daily and will guide you through each requirement.

Your family earned these benefits. Take the first step to claim them.