Social Security benefits after a death.

The $255 lump-sum death payment

The Social Security Administration (SSA) pays a one-time $255 lump-sum death payment when a worker who has earned enough Social Security credits passes away. This modest amount has not been adjusted since 1954, when it was set by an amendment to the Social Security Act. Although $255 covers only a small fraction of today's funeral expenses, it is a benefit the family has already earned through the decedent's payroll contributions, and we encourage every eligible family to claim it.

The payment goes first to a surviving spouse who was living in the same household as the worker at the time of death. If there is no eligible spouse, the payment may go to a surviving spouse who was receiving certain Social Security benefits on the worker's record, or, if no spouse qualifies, to a child who was eligible for benefits on the worker's record in the month of death. If no one in those categories qualifies, the $255 is not paid to the estate. Full eligibility rules are published by the SSA at ssa.gov/benefits/survivors.

Monthly survivor benefits — often the larger amount

Monthly survivor benefits are frequently far more meaningful than the one-time $255 payment. They are calculated as a percentage of the worker's primary insurance amount (PIA) — the benefit the worker was entitled to at full retirement age. General SSA eligibility categories include:

• Surviving spouse at full retirement age or older: up to 100% of the deceased worker's benefit.
• Surviving spouse age 60 to full retirement age: 71.5%–99% of the benefit, reduced for early claiming.
• Surviving spouse with a qualifying disability, age 50–59: 71.5% of the benefit, provided the disability began before or within seven years of the worker's death.
• Surviving spouse of any age caring for the deceased's child under 16 (or with a disability): 75% of the benefit.
• Unmarried children under 18 (or up to 19 if still a full-time elementary or secondary student): 75% of the benefit. Children who became disabled before age 22 may continue to qualify as adults.
• Dependent parents age 62 or older who received at least half of their support from the deceased: 75% for one parent, or 82.5% each if both parents qualify.

A family maximum benefit — generally between 150% and 180% of the worker's PIA — limits the total that can be paid to all survivors on a single record. Divorced spouses may also qualify under separate rules if the marriage lasted at least ten years. The SSA's survivor planner at ssa.gov/benefits/survivors is the authoritative reference and worth reviewing before the application call.

How to apply — Form SSA-8 and the two-year window

The lump-sum death payment is claimed by filing Form SSA-8, Application for Lump-Sum Death Payment. In most cases it cannot be filed online. Families should either:

• Call SSA: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday–Friday, to file over the phone or schedule an appointment.
• Visit a local field office: the Dallas office at 10824 N. Central Expwy, Dallas, TX 75231 serves Richardson, Plano, and much of North Dallas. Bring the death certificate, the decedent's Social Security number, your own Social Security number, and — for spousal claims — a marriage certificate. For a child's claim, bring the child's birth certificate.

Applications for the $255 lump-sum death payment must be filed within two years of the date of death. Monthly survivor benefits should be applied for as promptly as possible, because they are generally not retroactive to the date of death for adult survivors; missed months can mean permanently missed income.

Does Vargas-London notify SSA automatically?

Yes. When we file the certified death certificate with Texas Vital Statistics, the state's electronic death registration system reports the death to the Social Security Administration. This stops any future retirement or disability benefit payments issued in the decedent's name, and it prevents overpayments the family would otherwise be asked to return. However, that automated notification does not trigger the $255 lump-sum payment or any monthly survivor benefits — those still require a separate application by an eligible survivor. If Social Security direct-deposited a benefit for the month of death or any later month, the family should not spend those funds; SSA will typically reclaim them from the bank.

Our care team walks each family through the SSA-8 process at no additional charge as part of every arrangement. If you would like help preparing before you call, our downloads library includes a survivor-benefits checklist, and Carlos or Marina can sit with you during the SSA appointment call. The primary source for every figure on this page is the U.S. Social Security Administration at SSA.gov; rules and dollar amounts can change, and the SSA site is always the current authority.