Funeral & Burial Assistance for Seniors
Social Security's death payment is a fixed $255 and does not cover a funeral. Here is the other help available from federal, county and nonprofit sources, and where to apply.
Social Security pays a one-time death payment of $255 to a qualifying surviving spouse or child. The amount has been fixed since 1954, and it has to be claimed within 2 years. It is the only funeral-related benefit Social Security pays. Veterans have separate, larger VA burial benefits (see the VA Burial Benefits Checker). For other families who cannot cover the cost, the options are FEMA funeral assistance for disaster-related deaths, county indigent burial or cremation programs, and steps that lower the price before you buy.
Searches for "funeral assistance for seniors" turn up claims about "government funeral grants." No general program of that kind exists. This page covers what does exist: a fixed federal payment, a federal program for disaster deaths, and county programs, which are available almost everywhere but vary too much to give one dollar figure.
Real Funeral & Burial Assistance, in Order
1. Social Security's $255 lump-sum death payment
Paid to a surviving spouse who was living with the worker at death, or if none, to a qualifying child. It must be claimed within 2 years of the death, and after that it cannot be paid. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to report the death and apply. Most funeral homes also report the death to SSA for the family.
Call SSA: 1-800-772-1213 →2. Veteran? Check VA burial benefits first
VA burial and plot allowances run up to $2,000 (service-connected death) or up to $1,032 (non-service-connected), plus a free headstone and free burial space in a VA national cemetery, substantially more than Social Security's payment.
Check VA Burial Benefits →3. FEMA funeral assistance (disaster-related deaths only)
Reimburses up to $9,000 in uninsured funeral costs, but strictly for a death caused directly or indirectly by a federally declared disaster or emergency. You'll need a death certificate linking the death to the disaster and itemized funeral receipts. Not applicable to deaths from unrelated illness or natural causes.
Call FEMA: 1-844-684-6333 →4. County indigent burial or cremation assistance
Most counties fund a basic burial or cremation program for families with no other way to cover costs, typically administered by the county human/social services office or the coroner or medical examiner. Income rules, the amount covered and the office in charge differ by county, so we do not give a general figure. Call 2-1-1 or the county office, or ask a funeral home. Most have handled these applications and know which office to contact.
Call 2-1-1 for Local Help →5. Lower costs upfront, before a death happens
The Funeral Consumers Alliance is a nonprofit, unaffiliated with the funeral industry, that publishes regional price surveys and pre-planning guidance. Separately, the FTC's Funeral Rule requires any funeral home to give you an itemized price list over the phone or in person on request. Use it to compare providers before you decide.
Funeral Consumers Alliance →Claim the $255, and do not plan around it. The Social Security death payment has not changed since 1954, while funeral prices have risen many times over. It is money the family is owed, so claim it within the 2-year limit.
Check veteran status first. For a veteran, the VA burial allowance is larger than anything on this page, and most veterans with qualifying service are eligible. A discharge paper (DD-214) is the document to look for.
For everyone else, the county is the fallback. There is no general federal funeral grant. FEMA's program applies only to deaths linked to a federally declared disaster. Nearly every county has a program for a basic burial or cremation when a family has no means to pay. The rules and amounts are set locally and change, so we do not quote a figure. A funeral home that has handled these applications before can usually point you to the right office faster than a search.
Other things to check. Look through the person's papers for a life insurance policy, a prepaid funeral contract or burial insurance. A bank will often release funds from the deceased person's account directly to the funeral home on presentation of the bill, so ask the bank.
Prices are more negotiable than they seem. Under the FTC's Funeral Rule, a funeral home must give you an itemized price list on request, by phone or in person. You may buy only the items you want, and you may supply a casket or urn bought elsewhere. Direct cremation or immediate burial without a ceremony at the funeral home costs far less than a traditional service. The Funeral Consumers Alliance publishes regional price surveys.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Social Security pay toward a funeral?
A flat one-time death payment of $255. The amount was set in 1954 and has never been adjusted for inflation. It goes to a qualifying surviving spouse who was living with the worker or, if there is none, to a qualifying child. It must be claimed within 2 years of the death.
Is there a federal program that pays for anyone's funeral?
No general one. FEMA's Funeral Assistance program can reimburse up to $9,000 in funeral costs, but only when the death was caused directly or indirectly by a federally declared disaster. It does not cover deaths from natural causes or illness unrelated to a disaster.
What if a family genuinely can't afford any funeral costs?
Most counties have an indigent burial or cremation program, usually run by the county human services office, coroner or medical examiner. It pays for a basic burial or cremation when the family has no other resources. Availability, income rules and amounts differ by county, so call the county office or ask a funeral home to help you apply.
Are veteran funeral benefits different from what's on this page?
Yes, and they are generally larger. The VA provides a burial allowance (up to $2,000 for a service-connected death and up to $1,032 otherwise), a separate plot allowance, a free headstone or marker, and free burial space in a VA national cemetery. See the VA Burial Benefits Checker for the amounts that apply to a particular case.
How do I keep funeral costs down before a death happens?
The Funeral Consumers Alliance, a nonprofit with no ties to the funeral industry, publishes price comparisons and planning advice by region. The FTC's Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to give an itemized price list on request, which makes it much easier to compare providers in advance than during a crisis.
County and state indigent burial and cremation programs differ too much in eligibility, amount and administering agency to state a general figure or income limit here. Confirm the terms with your county human or social services office, the coroner or a local funeral home before you rely on this for a current situation. This page covers federal and nonprofit resources with uniform national terms. It is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration, FEMA or the Funeral Consumers Alliance.