Government Benefits

If eligible, you may qualify for a one-time death benefit through the SSA. The program provides a lump-sum benefit of $255 that can be applied to funeral or cremation costs. It’s modest support, especially when the average funeral costs around $9,000, but it’s enough to cover about 30 percent of direct cremation services.

In most cases, the SSA’s death benefit is granted to the surviving spouse, if they were living with the deceased at the time of death. If the surviving spouse was living in a different household, they may still be eligible for the death benefit if they were receiving SSA benefits on the deceased’s record, or if the spouse became eligible for benefits when the decedent passed.

If there isn’t an eligible spouse, the death benefit may be granted to the decedent’s child or children. To be eligible, the child must have received SSA benefits on the decedent’s record or must have become eligible for those benefits upon death.

Most state benefit programs require a good deal of paperwork, and it’s no different in this case. To apply, contact Social Security as soon as possible, especially if death has occurred. SSA will require the applicant to fill out an extensive form and provide identifying documentation, such as a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship.

The VA also provides death benefits to families of deceased veterans. If the decedent died while engaged in active service, the VA’s program may provide up to $2,000 in reimbursed funeral or cremation costs. If death occurred while not in active service, the program provides $300 in reimbursed expenses.

It’s important to note that these are reimbursed costs, so the decedent’s family will have to pay for services first. It can take months for the VA to process death benefit requests, so apply as soon as possible.

To be eligible through the VA’s support program, the veteran must not have been dishonorably discharged from the military. Beyond that, the veteran must have fulfilled one of several conditions to be eligible for benefits.

For example, if the veteran was receiving care at a VA facility at time of death or if they died while in the service, they are considered eligible. They are also eligible if they were receiving a VA pension or were eligible to receive a pension upon death.

The surviving spouse, children or parents can apply through the VA’s program. If there is an eligible surviving spouse on record upon death, the VA may pay out benefits as soon as they are notified of the veteran’s passing.

If this is not the case, eligible family members may apply for death benefits by completing Form 21P-530 online. To complete the form, the VA will require a copy of the veteran’s discharge papers.

When someone dies due to a natural disaster, surviving family members may be able to receive death benefits for funeral or cremation purposes. The program is managed through FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (Other Needs Assistance Provision). It only covers death due to declared major disasters or emergencies.

How much FEMA offers differs on a case-by-case basis, but it can cover a range of funeral and cremation-related expenses. Specifically, FEMA death benefits can provide support with cremation costs, transportation to identify the deceased, an urn and death certificates.

As you might expect, FEMA won’t pay anything out until they have plenty of confirming documentation in hand. 

Some of the items FEMA will need for eligibility purposes include:

• The decedent’s death certificate.
• Documentation from a designated state or local agency that proves the cause of death was related to a natural disaster.
• Identifying documentation that proves that the applicant is officially among the decedent’s next of kin.
• Proof that there are unmet funeral or cremation-related financial needs. A receipt from a cremation service provider would satisfy this requirement.
• Confirmation that death benefits have not been paid out by other state agencies, like the VA or SSA. If other agencies do provide assistance, those benefits are subtracted from what FEMA offers.