Form SSA-8 Instructions
If you’re the surviving beneficiary of a Social Security recipient or wage earner in the United States, you may be entitled to Social Security survivor benefits. One of those Social Security benefits is a $255 lump-sum death payment, which you can apply for using Form SSA-8.
This in-depth guide will walk you through Form SSA 8, including:
- Background information on SSA’s lump sum death benefit
- Who might be eligible for the lump sum payment
- How to complete Form SSA-8 to receive your death benefit
Let’s start with a walkthrough on the SSA-8 form itself.
Table of contents
How do I complete Form SSA-8?
This form appears intimidating, but is actually straightforward. You may complete it by yourself and submit it to the SSA. You can also schedule an interview at your local Social Security office and complete these questions in person. This might be the better option if you:
- Have a specific question
- Are concerned about identity theft or having your sensitive information in the postal system
- Are looking for additional information about survivor benefits, such as supplemental security income, or SSI benefits
Let’s proceed to the top of the form.
Item 1: Claimant’s name
Print your name in Item 1, including:
- Full first name
- Middle initial
- Last name
Item 2: Deceased Wage Earner information
In Item 2a, print the decedent’s full first name, middle initial, and last name.
In Item 2b, enter the deceased person’s Social Security number.
Item 3: Decedent’s date of birth
Enter the decedent’s date of birth, in MM/DD/YYYY format.
Item 4: Date and place of death
In Item 4a, enter the date of death.
In Item 4b, enter the place where the decedent passed away, specifically the city and state.
Item 5
Answer this item only if the decedent worked within the past 2 years.
In Item 5a, enter the approximate amount that the deceased person earned from either employment or self-employment during the year of death.
In Item 5b, enter the amount that the decedent earned in the year before death.
You may be able to obtain this information if you:
- Recently obtained the decedent’s Social Security Earnings information
- Have access to the decedent’s my Social Security account*
- Have access to the decedent’s earning history through the SSA mobile app
*Please note: The Social Security Administration, like most official websites of any official government organization, is a *.gov website. Although these websites provide increased protection against identity theft, please observe best practices to avoid fraud and scams.
Item 6
Only answer these questions if the deceased passed away:
- Prior to age 66, and
- Within the past 4 months
In Item 6a, answer the following question by checking Yes or No: “Was the deceased unable to work because of an illness, injuries, or conditions at the time of death.
If Yes, answer Item 6b. If No, go to Item 7, below.
Item 7: History of work in other federal agencies
Was the deceased on active duty in the military or naval service:
- After September 7, 1939, and
- Before 1968?
If No, proceed to Item 8. If Yes, answer the following:
- Item 7b: Dates of service (month, year format)
- Item 7c: Has anyone received, or expect to receive, benefits from other federal agencies
- Check Yes or No
- Common examples include veterans benefits and military retirement pensions
Item 8: Did the deceased work in the railroad industry for 7 years or more?
Answer Yes or No.
Item 9: Other nations’ Social Security benefits
For most people, this does not apply.
If the decedent participated in work covered by a social security system outside the United States, check Yes and list the appropriate country(ies).
If no, check “No” and proceed to Item 10.
Item 10: Spouse information
For Item 10(a), if you are the eligible surviving spouse, enter “Yes” and complete the rest of Item 10(a).
If not, choose one of the following:
- Go to Item 10(b) if the deceased had prior marriages
- Go to Item 11 if the decedent was never married
Item 10(a)
Enter the following:
- Spouse’s name (including maiden name)
- Date of marriage (MM/DD/YYYY)
- Location of marriage (city & state)
- How the marriage ended
- Most likely, “Death,” followed by date and location of death
- Who performed the marriage
- Spouse’s date of birth (or age)
- Spouse’s Social Security number
- Indicate if the surviving spouse does not have an SSN or if it’s unknown
Item 10(b)
Only complete this section if:
- The prior marriage(s) lasted at least 10 years
- The decedent married the same individual multiple times, and:
- Remarriage occurred within the year following the year of divorce, and
- Combined period of marriage was at least 10 years
If no other applicable marriages exist, or the decedent did not have former spouses, indicate this.
Item 10(c)
Only complete this if:
- The deceased has surviving child(ren), and
- The decedent’s marriage to the other parent ended in divorce, and
- The marriage is not already listed in Item 10(b)
Item 11: Surviving children information
List the full name of all the decedent’s surviving children who are now, or in the past 12 months, were unmarried and one of the following:
- Under age 18
- Age 18 or 19, attending a secondary school (college)
- Age 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22
Eligible children
The following are considered eligible children for purposes of determining Social Security payments such as the lump-sum death benefit:
- Natural children
- Adopted children
- Stepchildren
- Dependent grandchildren
- Dependent stepgrandchildren.
If there are no children meeting this criteria, write “None” and move to Item 12.
Item 12: Surviving parent information
Is there a surviving parent (or parents) who was receiving support from the deceased, either:
- At the time the decedent became disabled under Social Security law, or
- At the time of death
If so, enter “Yes” and provide the parent(s) name and address in the “Remarks” section. If not, enter “No” and move to Item 13.
Item 13: Have you filed for Social Security benefits on the decedent’s earnings record before?
Answer Yes or No.
Item 14: Surviving spouse’s information
If you are the surviving spouse, skip this question.
Enter the surviving spouse’s name and address here if you are completing the SSA death benefit form on the surviving spouse’s behalf.
If there is no surviving spouse, skip Items 14 through 18.
Item 15
Were the decedent and surviving spouse living together at the same address on the date of death?
If so, answer Yes and move to Item 16. If not, answer the rest of Item 15, including:
- Who was away
- Date the spouse was last at home
- Reason the absence began
- Reason they were apart at the time of death
- Illness or disabling condition information (if applicable)
Item 16
Only answer this item if:
- You are the surviving spouse, and
- You are under age 66
Item 16a: Are you so disabled that you cannot work, or was there a period during the last 14 months that you could not work?
If “Yes,” enter the date you became disabled in Item 16b.
Item 17: Prior marriages
Answer Item 17 only if you are the surviving spouse.
If you were previously married before marrying the deceased, only enter information about a marriage that lasted at least 10 years or ended due to the death of the previous spouse.
If you were divorced, then remarried the same individual within the year immediately following divorce, and the total period of marriage was at least 10 years, include that information as well.
Claimant information
There are several fields here worth noting:
Remarks
For any previous answers that require additional information or an explanation. Attach separate sheets as required.
Signature
When you sign this document, you attest that this information is accurate to the best of your knowledge under penalties of perjury. If you are caught making a fraudulent claim, the federal government may take disciplinary action.
Financial institution information
Enter the routing number and account number for direct deposit purposes.
What is Form SSA-8?
Form SSA-8, Application for Lump-Sum Death Payment, is the SSA death benefits form. A surviving spouse or family member uses Form SSA-8 to apply for the lump sum death payment (LSDP) from the Social Security Administration.
Applicants may apply using this paper form or via personal interview with an SSA employee. This interview may be done in person, at an SSA field office, or over the phone.
What is the SSA Lump Sum Death Benefit?
In 1935, Congress passed the original Social Security Act, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The LSDP was included as part of the original act, for an amount no greater than 3.5% of a worker’s covered annual earnings.
Subsequent law changes adjusted the total benefits slightly, as Congress introduced survivor benefits into later versions of the Social Security Act.
Why is the Lump Sum Death Benefit only $255?
In 1954, Congress changed the Social Security lump sum death benefit to be the lesser of:
- 3 times the worker’s Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), or
- $255
PIA is essentially the monthly benefit a worker would receive at full retirement age.
In 1954, the maximum PIA was $85 per month, so many payouts were actually less than $255. Over time, PIAs rose with inflation, but the $255 cap on the one-time payment has never been adjusted.
Now that Social Security earnings are much higher than in the 1950s. In fact, in 1974, the $85 monthly PIA became the minimum possible PIA. Now, that ‘cap’ serves as the payout floor, so covered workers will receive no more than $255.
Who is eligible for the SSA Lump Sum Death Benefit?
According to Section 202(i) of the Social Security Act, the surviving widow or widower who was living with the covered worker at the time of death may apply for the lump sum death benefit. If there is no surviving widow or widower living with the decedent, then the following eligible individuals may apply for the lump sum death benefit:
- Surviving widow or surviving widower who entitled to benefits based upon the worker’s history, or
- Surviving children, parents, or other persons entitled to Social Security benefits based upon the worker’s history
By law, the federal government will not process any claims for a lump sum death benefit submitted more than 2 years from the date of death.
Video walkthrough
Watch this instructional video to learn more about completing Form SSA-8.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about Form SSA-8.
All eligible beneficiaries must submit the completed SSA-8 form within 2 years of death to claim the lump sum death benefit.
You can apply by phone at (800) 772-1213. Hearing impaired persons may call via relay service or TTY at: (800) 325-0778.
Once you’ve completed the form, you may drop it off at your local Social Security office. You may be asked to bring identity documents. Examples of documents include a birth certificate or other proof of birth, proof of U.S. citizenship (if you weren’t born in the United States), U.S. military discharge papers for military service before 1968, W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns, or a death certificate.
Upon receipt, the SSA should send the claimant a receipt. The receipt should tell you when the SSA received the claim, which office is handling the claim as well as contact information, and the number of business days it should take to receive a response.
How do I find a copy of SSA-8?
You may find a copy of this form on the Social Security website or by downloading the file below.
