Benefits finder

Find out who helps pay for the funeral

Eight quick questions. We check veteran burial allowances, Social Security, state and county assistance, workers' compensation, victim compensation and union benefits — then show the dollars, the paperwork and the deadlines that matter most.

Nothing is submitted anywhere. Answers stay on this page.

About you

Your relationshipState where they lived

Did they live in the county where you'd apply?

Military service

Did they serve in the armed forces?

Any branch, including reserves called to active duty.

Social Security

Were they receiving Social Security or Medicare?

Did a spouse live in the same household?

Required for the one-time $255 payment, unless there's an eligible child.

Work, union and circumstances

Were they a union member?

Were they employed at the time of death?

Was the death caused by a work injury or illness?

Was the death the result of a crime?

Were they on Medicaid or a low income?

Is the estate without funds to pay the funeral home?

Did they have a life insurance policy?

Preview of your results

Ordered by how likely you are to qualify. Amounts are current program figures; the county range depends on your local cap.

SSA

Social Security lump-sum death payment

Likely eligible

$255

A surviving spouse living in the same household, or an eligible child, receives the one-time $255 payment.
The person who died must have earned enough work credits.

What you'll need

· Certified death certificate
· Proof of relationship (marriage or birth certificate)
· Photo ID for the person applying
· Social Security numbers for both people

Deadline

Apply within 2 years of the death

Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213

SSA

Ongoing Social Security survivor benefits

Possibly eligible

$900 – $3,800

Monthly amount, not one-time.

Surviving spouses aged 60+ (50+ if disabled), spouses caring for a child under 16, and children under 18 can receive monthly survivor benefits.
This is a monthly amount, not a funeral payment — but it often matters more than the funeral help.

What you'll need

· Certified death certificate
· Proof of relationship (marriage or birth certificate)
· Last year's W-2 or tax return

Deadline

Benefits are generally not retroactive — apply promptly

Report the death and apply with SSA

State / County

California: County indigent burial (Health & Safety Code 7104)

Not eligible

$0 – $1,200

Most counties will not reimburse after the bill is settled. Apply before you pay.

County assistance is limited to estates with no available funds.
The person lived in the county where you would apply.

Common questions about funeral benefits

How much does the VA pay for a funeral?

For a service-connected death the VA pays a $2,000 burial allowance. For a non-service-connected death the allowance is $948 when the veteran died in VA care, plus a $948 plot allowance for burial in a private cemetery. Headstones, flags and military honors are always free.

What is the $255 Social Security death benefit?

Social Security pays a one-time $255 lump sum to a surviving spouse who lived in the same household, or to an eligible child. It is not paid to funeral homes, parents or siblings, and you must apply within two years.

What if the family cannot afford a funeral at all?

Every state has a county indigent burial or cremation program for estates with no funds, typically paying $750–$1,700 directly to the funeral home. You must apply before the bill is paid — counties almost never reimburse after the fact.

Can union benefits be combined with VA and Social Security?

Yes. VA allowances, the SSA lump sum, union death benefits and employer group life are separate programs and can be claimed together. Only county indigent assistance is usually reduced by other help you receive.

This finder is general guidance, not legal or benefits advice. Program amounts and rules change, and final decisions rest with each agency.