3. Divorced Spouses, Adult Children, and Funeral Homes Cannot Claim It

Misconceptions surrounding eligibility often lead to frustration during the claim process. Many family members spend time applying for the benefit only to receive a formal rejection notice because they fall outside statutory guidelines.

Divorced former spouses cannot receive the $255 lump-sum death payment under any circumstances. Even if you were married to the deceased worker for over ten years and currently receive divorced spousal benefits on their record, federal law restricts the lump-sum payment strictly to current surviving spouses or qualifying dependent children.

Similarly, financially independent adult children cannot claim the benefit. If you are a 45-year-old adult who personally paid $10,000 for your parent’s funeral, the Social Security Administration cannot reimburse you using the $255 benefit. Funeral homes and mortuaries are also legally barred from claiming the money directly. The payment belongs exclusively to qualifying individuals, regardless of who paid the final funeral expenses.