A bereavement payment is a one-time lump sum from Social Security paid to the family members of someone who has died.

When a worker covered by Social Security passes away, the Social Security Administration pays a bereavement lump-sum death benefit of $255 to help cover when ready costs. This is a fixed amount—it does not vary based on the worker's earnings history or how long they paid into the system. The payment goes to whoever was living with the deceased at the time of death, or if no one was living with them, to whoever paid for the funeral.

This is separate from survivor benefits, which are ongoing monthly payments to a spouse, children, or parents who depended on the worker's income. A bereavement payment is meant to help with the funeral bill itself, not to replace lost income over time.

Key Takeaways

  • The bereavement payment is a one-time $255 payment from Social Security, not an ongoing benefit.
  • The payment goes to the person who was living with the deceased or who paid funeral expenses, whichever applies first.
  • You do not need to request this payment—Social Security will contact the person may have access to to it once they are notified of the death.
  • Survivor benefits (monthly payments to spouses, children, or parents) are a different program and require a separate process.
  • The bereavement payment is the same for everyone and does not depend on how much the deceased person earned.

Who receives the bereavement payment

Social Security pays the $255 to one person only, following a specific order. The first person in line is whoever was living with the deceased at the time of death. If no one was living with them, the payment goes to whoever paid for the funeral or burial expenses.

You do not have to be a family member to receive it. If the deceased lived alone and a friend or neighbor paid for the funeral, that person can receive the payment. The key is either living arrangement or who actually paid the bill.

If multiple people paid funeral costs together, Social Security will ask them to decide among themselves who receives the $255, or the people involved can split it by mutual agreement. Social Security does not divide the payment.

How and when the payment is made

You do not need to request a bereavement payment. Once Social Security is notified of the death—usually through a death certificate filed with a state vital records office—they will identify who is may have access to to the payment and contact that person. The notification typically comes by mail.

The payment is sent by check or direct deposit, depending on how the deceased person received their own Social Security benefits. If they had direct deposit set up, the $255 goes to that same account. If they received checks, a check is mailed to the person may have access to to the payment.

Timing varies. Some payments arrive within two to four weeks of Social Security being notified. Others take longer if there is a delay in reporting the death or if there is a question about who should receive the money. Funeral homes sometimes report deaths to Social Security directly, which can speed up the process.

The difference between bereavement payments and survivor benefits

A bereavement payment is a one-time $255. Survivor benefits are monthly payments that continue for years. They are two separate programs with different rules and different people who can receive them.

Survivor benefits go to a widow or widower (at any age if caring for a child under 16, or at age 60 or older), children under 19 (or 19 if still in high school), and parents age 62 or older who depended on the worker's income. The amount of each monthly payment depends on how much the deceased person earned and paid into Social Security.

A family can receive both the bereavement payment and survivor benefits. The $255 is paid once, and then may be able to access family members begin receiving monthly checks. The bereavement payment does not reduce the amount of survivor benefits.

What the bereavement payment covers

The $255 is meant to help with funeral and burial costs, but Social Security does not require you to prove how you spent it. Once you receive the payment, you can use it for any expense related to the death—the funeral home bill, the cemetery plot, the obituary, flowers, or anything else.

In practice, $255 covers only a small portion of funeral costs. The average funeral in the United States costs between $7,000 and $12,000, depending on the type of service and location. The bereavement payment is a small help, not a full solution. Some families use it toward the funeral bill and cover the rest through savings, life insurance, or payment plans offered by funeral homes.

How to report a death to Social Security

If you are handling the death of someone who received Social Security, you can report it to Social Security directly. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and tell them you are reporting a death. Have the person's Social Security number and date of death ready.

You can also report the death in person at your local Social Security office. Bring a death certificate or a copy of it. Many funeral homes will report the death to Social Security on behalf of the family, so check with them first—you may not need to do it yourself.

Reporting the death is important for two reasons: it stops any payments that should not continue (like if the deceased was receiving benefits they were no longer may have access to to), and it triggers the bereavement payment and any survivor benefits the family may be due.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can multiple family members split the $255 bereavement payment?

Social Security pays the full $255 to one person. If multiple people paid funeral costs, they can agree among themselves to split it, but Social Security will not divide the payment. You will need to work that out directly with the other people involved.

What if the person who gets the bereavement payment was not related to the deceased?

Relationship does not matter. If you were living with the deceased or you paid for the funeral, you are may have access to to the $255. Social Security does not require you to be a family member.

Does the bereavement payment count as income for taxes or benefits?

The bereavement payment is not taxable income. It also does not count as income for purposes of other means-tested benefits like Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income, though you should report it to those programs if you receive them.

What if the deceased person was not receiving Social Security when they died?

You may still be may have access to to the bereavement payment if the person was insured under Social Security—meaning they had paid into the system long enough. Contact Social Security to find out. If they were not insured, no bereavement payment is available, but survivor benefits might still be possible for some family members.

How long does it take to get the bereavement payment after reporting the death?

It typically takes two to four weeks, but it can be longer if there is a delay in reporting or if Social Security needs more information. Funeral homes that report directly sometimes speed up the process. Call Social Security if you have not received it within a month of reporting the death.