Bespoke Burials

Eligibility

To receive monthly benefits, the deceased workers must have credit for work covered by Social Security ranging from 1 1/2 to 10 years depending on his or her age at death. Those eligible for monthly benefits include:

• A widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled) or at any age if caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled.
• A divorced widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled) if the marriage lasted 10 years orif caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled.
• unmarried children up to 18 (19 if they are attending a primary or secondary school full-time).
• Children who were disabled before reaching 22 as long as they remain disabled.
• Dependant parent or parents 62 or older.

Lump-Sum Death Payment

A one-time payment of $255 is paid in addition to the monthly cash benefits described above. The lump-sum death payment (LSDP) is paid in the following priority order:

• A surviving spouse who lived in the same household as the deceased person at the time of death.
• A surviving spouse eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death.
• A child or children elgigible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death.

Applying for Benefits

• You must apply in order to receive benefits. You may apply at any Social Security office, by telehpone at 1-800-772-1213, or online [ssa.gov]