Glossary

Social Security lump-sum death payment

A one-time $255 payment from Social Security to an eligible surviving spouse or child when an insured worker dies.

Also called: Social Security death benefit, $255 death benefit, LSDP

The lump-sum death payment is a one-time $255 benefit the Social Security Administration pays when a worker who earned enough Social Security credits dies. The amount is fixed in law and hasn't been raised in decades, so it covers little of a typical funeral.

According to the SSA, as of 2026 the payment goes to a surviving spouse who was living with the worker at the time of death, or to a spouse who was receiving or eligible for benefits on the worker's record. If there's no eligible spouse, a child who qualifies for survivor benefits on the worker's record can receive it. The application must be filed within two years of the death.

The $255 is separate from monthly survivor benefits, which can be far larger and are sometimes overlooked. Hypothetically, a widow raising two young children might qualify for monthly benefits for herself and each child, plus the one-time payment. Families planning for funeral costs usually rely on savings, life insurance or burial insurance instead. See Social Security survivor benefits and the $255 death payment and what a funeral costs and how families pay for it.

Last reviewed October 4, 2026

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Related terms

Death benefit The money a life insurance policy pays to the beneficiaries when the insured dies, usually the face amount adjusted for loans, riders and dividends. Death certificate The official government record of a person's death, listing the date, place and cause; insurers need a certified copy to process a claim. Burial insurance A small whole life policy meant to cover funeral, burial and end-of-life bills, often sold to older adults with simplified or no underwriting. Death Master File The Social Security Administration's database of reported deaths, which insurers check to find deceased policyholders and unpaid benefits. Beneficiary The person, trust, charity or estate named to receive a life insurance death benefit or an annuity's remaining value when the insured or owner dies.

Related guides

Do I need life insurance? A plain test You need life insurance if someone would struggle financially after your death. A five-question test, who can usually skip it, and what to do next. What a funeral costs and how families pay for it NFDA's 2023 medians put a funeral with burial at $8,300 and with cremation at $6,280, before cemetery costs. What drives the bill, your FTC rights, ways to pay. Social Security survivor benefits and the $255 death payment Who gets Social Security survivor benefits, what they pay (71.5-100% for widows, 75% for children), the $255 death payment and the gaps to insure.