The Social Security Administration has announced a special one-time $255 direct deposit to certain individuals. This payment is intended to help financially those individuals who have recently lost a family member, as long as they qualify under some conditions. Officially, this payment is called the Social Security Lump Sum Death Benefit. This payment is not new, but now it is being issued automatically to those who qualify, eliminating the need to fill out complex forms for many.
Who Gets $255
Eligibility revolves around surviving spouses or minor children of the deceased holder of Social Security benefits. These are the criteria:
- The deceased must have been a holder of Social Security benefits.
- The surviving spouse must have been living with the deceased at the time of death or, under some conditions, already receiving benefits based on the deceased’s record.
- Dependent children under 18 years of age are also eligible (or they can be 19 as long as they are still in high school).
- For many beneficiaries, this means that the automatic deposit eliminates the need to manually claim the payment.
Payment Process and Timeline
Different from all other federal relief payments, this $255 deposit is individually processed after the SSA gets the death report. In the majority of cases, directly into the bank account of qualified individuals, payments will be made using the same method as the Social Security benefits. The general time frame is anywhere between a couple of weeks to two months after a death is recorded. However, due to new processing automation, a lot of people report getting their payments within 30 days.
Very Short Table – Lump-Sum Death Benefit Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Amount | $255 |
| Payment Method | Direct Deposit |
| Eligible Recipients | Surviving spouse, minor children |
| Automatic Issuance | Yes, for most cases |
How to Confirm Your Eligibility
Although payments are other fully automated, it is still good to check on your status, which can be done by getting in touch directly with SSA. You can also check your Social Security online account under the “My Social Security” section. Confirm all the personal information and beneficiary details on your account. Survivors who do not get a deposit as expected should follow up as quickly as possible.
Impact for Families
The $255 payment, although small, can be very useful to cover immediate costs associated with the funeral, and food and other expenses during a time of emotional strain on the family. The SSA automates payments in order to minimize stress on grieving families, and to give relief as quickly as possible, because they do not have to manually process it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Should I apply for the $255 payment?
You most likely do not have to apply for the payment. If you qualify, it will be sent to you automatically, however, there are some instances when you will have to get in touch with the SSA.
Q2. If I do not qualify as a spouse or child, do I qualify for the payment?
You do not qualify because the Lump-Sum Death Benefit is only available to surviving spouses and dependent children.
Q3. I have not received my payment. What do I do?
You will want to confirm your eligibility with the SSA and check that your banking information is correct as there may be some delays in payment.
