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 eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death

To qualify for monthly Social Security benefits, a deceased worker must have earned credits through covered work ranging from 1.5 to 10 years, depending on their age at the time of death. Those eligible for these benefits include:

• A widow or widower aged 60 or older (or aged 50 or older if disabled).
• A surviving spouse of any age who is caring for the deceased's child under age 16 or who is disabled.
• An unmarried child of the deceased who is:
  • Younger than 18, or
  • Between 18 and 19 and a full-time student in elementary or secondary school, or
  • Age 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22.
• Parents aged 62 or older who were financially dependent on the deceased for at least half of their support.
• A surviving divorced spouse, under certain conditions.