When someone dies, their Social Security benefits typically stop, but survivor benefits can provide monthly payments to eligible family members (spouses, divorced spouses, unmarried children, dependent parents) and a one-time $255 lump-sum death payment to a qualifying spouse or child, with funeral homes often reporting the death to SSA, but families must still contact them to claim benefits. Any overpaid benefits for the month of death must be returned to Social Security.
Social Security death benefits (survivor benefits) go to eligible family members like spouses (at any age if caring for young kids, 60+ otherwise, 50+ if disabled), unmarried children (under 18, or 19 if in school, or any age if disabled from childhood), and dependent parents (62+) of a deceased worker who paid into Social Security; there's also a $255 lump-sum death payment for a qualifying spouse or child. Eligibility depends on the deceased's earnings record and the survivor's relationship and age/disability status, with benefits often based on a percentage of the worker's full retirement amount.
The SSA cannot pay benefits for the month of a recipient's death. That means if the person died in July, the check or direct deposit received in August (which is payment for July) must be returned. Find out how to return a check to the SSA.
The $255 Social Security Lump-Sum Death Payment goes first to the surviving spouse if living with the deceased or receiving benefits on their record; if no eligible spouse, then to a child who qualifies for survivor benefits in the month of death, potentially splitting the amount if multiple children are eligible, with no other relatives or funeral homes eligible.
If a child receives survivors benefits, they can get up to 75% of the deceased parent's basic Social Security benefit. There is a limit, however, to the amount of money we can pay to a family. The maximum family payment is determined as part of every Social Security benefit computation.
Children: Unmarried children of deceased workers can receive survivor benefits if they're under 18, or up to age 19 if still attending high school full-time. Children with disabilities who began before age 22 may receive benefits indefinitely.
Payments start at 71.5% of your spouse's benefit and increase the longer you wait to apply. For example, you might get: Over 75% at age 61. Over 80% at age 63.
Population Profiles
About 3.3 percent of the total population aged 60 or older never receive Social Security benefits. Late-arriving immigrants and infrequent workers comprise 88 percent of never beneficiaries. Never beneficiaries have a higher poverty rate than current and future beneficiaries.
Eligibility for a death benefit depends on whether you mean the U.S. Social Security $255 lump-sum payment or a Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) benefit, as the $2,500 amount likely refers to the CPP death benefit; for U.S. Social Security, it's a surviving spouse or eligible child/parent; for Canada's CPP, it's a contributor who worked and paid into CPP, with potential top-ups to reach $2,500 or more if no spouse receives a survivor's pension.
Funeral homes generally tell us when someone dies. So, you don't typically need to report a death to us. If a funeral home isn't involved or doesn't report the death for some reason, you should call us and provide the name, Social Security number, date of birth, and date of death for the person who died.
If the child has a qualifying disability that began before age 22, they can start collecting a deceased parent's Social Security benefits when they turn 18. The benefit can last the rest of their life if their disability prevents them from working.
Social Security payments stop the month after the month of death, so any benefit received for the month the person died (or later) must be returned to the SSA; if paid by direct deposit, contact the bank to return it, and if by check, don't cash it and return it promptly to the Social Security Administration, as keeping it is considered fraud and survivors may qualify for benefits.
You can generally keep a deceased person's bank account open until the estate is settled, which means through the entire probate process if required, but the account becomes frozen upon notification of death, requiring an executor or administrator with court authority (Letters Testamentary/Administration) to manage it for paying debts and distributing funds, otherwise, the bank should be notified ASAP to avoid funds escheating to the state after years of dormancy.
Bereavement benefits
You may be able to get: Funeral Expenses Payment - to help towards the cost of a funeral if you're on a low income. Bereavement Support Payment - if your husband, wife or civil partner died in the last 21 months, or if your partner you were living with as though married died after 6 April 2017.
If a deceased person has no money, the funeral costs typically fall to the next-of-kin, but many states and local governments offer indigent burial programs for those with no funds or family able to pay, resulting in a basic public health funeral. The deceased's estate pays first if there are any assets, and veterans may qualify for benefits from the VA, while the Social Security Administration offers limited survivor benefits.
Social Security death benefits (survivor benefits) go to eligible family members like spouses (at any age if caring for young kids, 60+ otherwise, 50+ if disabled), unmarried children (under 18, or 19 if in school, or any age if disabled from childhood), and dependent parents (62+) of a deceased worker who paid into Social Security; there's also a $255 lump-sum death payment for a qualifying spouse or child. Eligibility depends on the deceased's earnings record and the survivor's relationship and age/disability status, with benefits often based on a percentage of the worker's full retirement amount.
The lowest Social Security payment is determined by the Special Minimum Benefit, which provides a higher amount for low-wage earners with long work histories, starting around $53.50 monthly for 11 years of work in 2026, but this benefit is rarely paid to new retirees because regular benefits based on modern wages usually exceed it, with the actual lowest amount depending on individual work records and claiming age.
If you choose to remarry, you typically lose eligibility. However, if you were married to your former spouse for at least 10 years and remarry after age 60 (or 50 if disabled), you may still qualify for benefits. Benefit amount. Your payment is based on your spouse's work record and your age when you claim.
The lump-sum death payment is a one-time payment intended to help cover costs when a spouse or parent dies. A spouse might get a one-time death benefit payment of $255.