Can I claim the $255 Social Security death benefit as an ex-spouse? Married 18 years but divorced

The $255 death benefit is very limited in who can receive it. It generally only goes to a surviving spouse who was living with the deceased at the time of death, or to a spouse or child who is eligible for certain benefits on the deceased's record in the month of death. As an ex-spouse who wasn't living with him, you wouldn't qualify for the lump-sum death benefit. However, you might be eligible for survivor benefits as an ex-spouse since you were married for more than 10 years. You could potentially claim these as early as age 60 (or 50 if disabled). These monthly benefits would be much more valuable than the one-time $255 payment. You can't apply for survivor benefits online - you'll need to call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment or visit your local office.

my aunt went thru this last year and she couldnt get the $255 cuz she was the ex wife. only current spouses living with the person or dependent kids get it. its dumb its so small anyway, like what does $255 even cover these days? barely even helps with funeral costs

As others have said, you won't qualify for the lump-sum death payment as an ex-spouse. But don't overlook the potential survivor benefits! Since you were married more than 10 years and didn't remarry before age 60, you could be eligible for significant monthly benefits. If you wait until your Full Retirement Age (probably 67 for you), you could get 100% of what your ex would have received. If you claim at 60, you'd get about 71.5% of that amount. Each year you wait between 60 and FRA increases the benefit. You should definitely contact Social Security to discuss your options. This could mean thousands of dollars per year for the rest of your life, which is far more valuable than the one-time $255 payment.

The $255 death benefit is a joke anyway. It's been the same amount since the 1950s!!! Imagine if they had indexed it for inflation? It would be worth thousands now. Just another example of how the SSA isn't really helping people.

I had to call Social Security recently about survivor benefits and it was IMPOSSIBLE to get through. Spent hours with the phone just disconnecting. I finally used a service called Claimyr that got me through to a live agent in about 15 minutes! Totally worth it. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU and their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. Saved me so much frustration.

Hi there, I'm sorry about your ex-husband's passing. Just wanted to add that when you do apply for survivor benefits, bring as much documentation as possible: marriage certificate, divorce decree, his death certificate, your birth certificate, and your Social Security card. They may not need all of it, but better to have everything with you. And try to schedule the first appointment in the morning - the offices get more backed up as the day goes on!

For the death certificate, they usually want to see the original but they'll make a copy and give it back to you. At least that's what happened when my sister applied for survivor benefits. And yes, having his Social Security number would definitely help speed things up when you contact them, but if you don't have it, they should be able to find his record with enough other information.

One more important thing to consider: If you're working and planning to apply for survivor benefits at 60, be aware of the earnings test. In 2025, if you earn more than $23,000 (approximate figure), SSA will withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that limit until you reach your Full Retirement Age. This earnings test can significantly reduce or eliminate your survivor benefits if you have substantial income. However, once you reach FRA, the earnings test no longer applies, and you can earn any amount without reduction in benefits.