Who Is Eligible for the Medicare Death Benefit?

The Social Security Administration provides a one-time payment, commonly referred to as the Social Security death benefit, to help eligible survivors with immediate expenses. This benefit is part of Social Security, distinct from Medicare, which is a health insurance program and does not cover funeral costs or provide death benefits.

Eligibility for the Benefit

Eligibility for the Social Security death benefit hinges on the deceased worker’s earnings record and the surviving family member’s relationship. The deceased must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for sufficient work credits. A worker generally needs 40 work credits, equivalent to about 10 years of work, to be “fully insured.” Fewer credits may be necessary if the worker was younger at death, with a rule allowing benefits if they worked for at least 1.5 years in the three years immediately preceding their death.

The benefit is paid to a surviving spouse or eligible child. A surviving spouse qualifies if they were living with the deceased at the time of death. If not living together, a spouse may still qualify if they were receiving certain Social Security benefits on the deceased’s record. A spouse must have been married to the deceased for at least nine months, though exceptions apply for accidental death or death in military service. A surviving spouse must also meet age requirements: age 60 or older, or age 50 if disabled. A spouse of any age can qualify if caring for the deceased’s child who is under age 16 or has a disability.

Children can also be eligible for the death benefit. This includes unmarried biological children, adopted children, and in some cases, stepchildren or grandchildren. To qualify, a child must be under age 18, or under age 19 if still attending high school full-time. A child of any age may also be eligible if they have a disability that began before age 22.

Dependent parents of the deceased worker may also be eligible for benefits. A parent must be age 62 or older and have been dependent on the deceased for at least half of their financial support at the time of death. They must not receive a Social Security benefit equal to or greater than the survivor benefit they would receive.

Benefit Amount and How to Apply

The Social Security death benefit is a one-time lump-sum payment of $255. This amount has remained fixed for many decades and is not adjusted for inflation. If there is a qualifying surviving spouse, they receive this payment. If there is no eligible spouse, the payment can be made to an eligible child or children. If multiple children qualify, the $255 payment is divided equally among them.

To apply for the death benefit, several documents are necessary to establish eligibility. These include:
The deceased worker’s Social Security number, date and place of death, and an official death certificate.
The applicant’s Social Security number and proof of their relationship to the deceased (e.g., marriage or birth certificate).
Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status, if not born in the United States.
The deceased worker’s W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns from the most recent year.
Bank account information for direct deposit.

The application process requires contacting the Social Security Administration (SSA). While some Social Security benefits can be applied for online, the lump-sum death payment requires application by phone or in person at a local Social Security office. You can call the SSA’s national toll-free number to schedule an appointment or apply over the phone.

Apply promptly, as the application needs to be submitted within two years of the deceased’s death. Funeral homes often assist with reporting the death to the SSA. Do not delay applying if all documents are not immediately available, as the SSA can assist in obtaining them.