Form SSA-8: Lump-Sum Death Payment — Fill Online

What is Form SSA-8?

Form SSA-8, Application for Lump-Sum Death Payment, is the Social Security Administration (SSA) application for the one-time lump-sum death payment. SSA's survivors publication (No. 05-10084, named on the form) says that if a worker worked long enough, SSA makes a one-time payment of $255 when they die, can pay it only to a spouse or child who meets certain requirements, and that survivors must apply within 2 years of the date of death. The form itself repeats that the application must be filed within 2 years after the death.

The form is three pages of questions plus SSA's receipt. It asks about the deceased (Social Security number, dates of birth and death, recent earnings, military service before 1968, railroad work and work abroad), the deceased's marriages and children, whether there is a surviving spouse and whether they lived together, and, if you are the surviving spouse, your own earlier marriages. SSA mostly takes this application by phone or at an office, but the paper form is accepted when you send or bring it to your local Social Security office.

VergeHR asks only the items that apply to you, prints your answers on SSA's own PDF (edition 12-2024), including names with letters like ł, ș or ü, and files the finished PDF in Files. You print it and sign it in ink. VergeHR never sends anything to SSA.

Who fills it: The surviving spouse, or a child of the deceased (or someone applying for that child).
Given to: Your local Social Security office: send it or bring it there.
When: Within 2 years after the date of death.
Amount: A one-time payment of $255, per SSA's survivors publication.
Signatures: Signed in ink by the applicant. A signature by mark (X) needs two witnesses who know the applicant.
Edition: Form SSA-8 (12-2024), OMB No. 0960-0013

Who needs to fill out Form SSA-8?

A widow or widower claiming the lump-sum death payment on their spouse's Social Security record.
A child of a worker who has died, when there is no surviving spouse who can get the payment.
A parent or guardian applying on behalf of a child of the deceased.
Families who prefer to prepare the answers on paper before calling or visiting Social Security.

When to Use Form SSA-8

After a death, once you have the death certificate and the deceased's Social Security number.
Before the 2-year deadline after the date of death.
When SSA asks you to complete the paper application, or you want to send it to the local office rather than apply by phone.

What You Need Before You Start

The deceased's full name, Social Security number, date and place of birth, and date and place of death.
A death certificate for the deceased worker (SSA lists it among the documents it may ask for).
The deceased's W-2 forms and/or self-employment tax returns for last year, and an estimate of earnings in the year of death and the year before.
U.S. military discharge papers, if the deceased served before 1968.
Marriage details: dates and places of marriage, how and when each marriage ended, and each spouse's date of birth (or age) and Social Security number, if known.
The names of the deceased's unmarried children under 18, aged 18 to 19 and in school up to grade 12, or disabled before age 22.
Your own birth certificate or proof of birth, and proof of citizenship or lawful alien status if you were not born in the U.S.
Your bank routing and account numbers, to get the payment by direct deposit.

What’s On Form SSA-8

The 2024 edition has 4 pages. VergeHR asks for it in 11 parts:

Item 1: About youApplicant (surviving spouse or child)
Items 2–4: The person who diedApplicant (surviving spouse or child)
Items 5–9: Work, disability and military serviceApplicant (surviving spouse or child)
Item 10(a): Surviving spouseApplicant (surviving spouse or child)
Item 10(b): The deceased's prior marriage of 10 years or moreApplicant (surviving spouse or child)
Item 10(c): Marriage to the parent of a surviving childApplicant (surviving spouse or child)
Items 11–13: Children, parents and earlier claimsApplicant (surviving spouse or child)
Items 14–15: Surviving spouse's address and living arrangementsApplicant (surviving spouse or child)
Items 16–17: If you are the surviving spouseApplicant (surviving spouse or child)
RemarksApplicant (surviving spouse or child)
Signature, contact details and paymentApplicant (surviving spouse or child)

How to fill out Form SSA-8, step by step

1 Items 1 to 4: You and the deceased

Print your name, then the deceased's name, Social Security number, date of birth, and date and place of death (city and state).

2 Item 5: Recent earnings

Only if the deceased worked within the past 2 years: about how much they earned from employment and self-employment in the year of death, and in the year before. An estimate is fine.

3 Item 6: Unable to work

Only if the deceased died before age 66 and within the past 4 months: whether they were unable to work because of illness, injuries or conditions at the time of death, and if so, since when.

4 Items 7 to 9: Military, railroad and foreign work

Item 7 asks about active military or naval service after September 7, 1939 and before 1968, with the dates (MM/YYYY) and whether anyone gets or expects a benefit from another Federal agency. Item 8 is railroad work of 7 years or more. Item 9 is work covered by another country's social security system, and which countries.

5 Item 10: Marriages

10(a) is the marriage to the surviving spouse: name including maiden name, when and where you married, how, when and where it ended (for the marriage to the deceased, death), who performed it, and the spouse's date of birth and Social Security number. 10(b) is a prior marriage of the deceased that lasted at least 10 years, and 10(c) a divorced marriage to the parent of a surviving child. If a Social Security number is unknown, write None or Unknown.

6 Items 11 to 13: Children, parents and earlier claims

List all the deceased's children, adopted children, stepchildren and dependent grandchildren who are, or were in the past 12 months, unmarried and under 18, 18 to 19 and in school full time (grade 12 or below), or disabled before 22. Write None if there are none. Item 12 asks about a parent who was receiving support from the deceased (give their name and address in Remarks), and item 13 whether you have filed before on this record.

7 Items 14 and 15: The surviving spouse's household

If you are not the surviving spouse, give the spouse's name and address in item 14. Item 15 asks whether the deceased and the surviving spouse were living together at the time of death, and if not, who was away, since when and why.

8 Items 16 and 17: If you are the surviving spouse

Item 16 asks whether you are, or in the last 14 months were, disabled and unable to work, if you are under 66. Item 17 asks for any earlier marriage of yours that lasted at least 10 years or ended with the spouse's death.

9 Remarks, signature and payment

Use Remarks for explanations, such as a marriage not performed by a clergyman or public official. Then sign in ink, give your daytime phone number, mailing address and county, and your bank's routing and account numbers for direct deposit (or choose Direct Express).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Waiting too long: the application must be filed within 2 years after the date of death.
Leaving out prior marriages that lasted 10 years or more, or a divorced marriage to the parent of a surviving child.
Answering item 6 when the deceased was 66 or older, or died more than 4 months ago.
Not explaining in Remarks a marriage marked "Other", or the parent named in item 12.
Signing with a mark (X) without two witnesses who know you and give their full addresses.
Giving bank details for an account that isn't yours, or leaving them out, which can delay the payment.

After You Fill It Out

Print the form, sign it in ink with your first name, middle initial and last name, and send or bring it to your local Social Security office. You can find it through ssa.gov. SSA says it must see the original of most documents, such as a birth certificate, and returns them to you. It accepts photocopies of W-2 forms and self-employment tax returns.

SSA gives you the receipt on page 4, with its phone number, how many days to expect a reply, and your claim number (BNC). Quote the claim number whenever you write or call, and report any change of mailing address.

Keep the filed PDF and SSA's receipt in Files with the death certificate, so the family has them for any survivor benefits that follow.

Fill Out Form SSA-8 Online with VergeHR

Pick the employee. Choose an employee and VergeHR fills in their name, date of birth, email and other details it already knows.
Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 95 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real Social Security Administration (SSA) form, and let VergeHR do any worksheet arithmetic.
Generate the official PDF. VergeHR prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault.

VergeHR fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start Form SSA-8 Now — It’s Free

Form SSA-8: frequently asked questions

How much is the Social Security lump-sum death payment?

SSA's survivors publication (No. 05-10084) says it is a one-time payment of $255, paid when a worker who worked long enough dies.

Who can get the $255 death payment?

SSA can pay it only to a spouse or child who meets certain requirements. The form collects the facts SSA uses to decide, such as whether the spouse lived with the deceased.

Is there a deadline to apply?

Yes. The form says the application must be filed within 2 years after the date of death of the wage earner or self-employed person.

Can I mail Form SSA-8?

The form says to send or bring the completed form to your local Social Security office. SSA also takes the application by phone at 1-800-772-1213 or at an office visit.

Does this also apply for monthly survivors benefits?

No. SSA-8 is the lump-sum death payment application. It notes that it may also serve as an application for benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act. Ask SSA about monthly survivors benefits separately.

Can I fill out Form SSA-8 online?

With VergeHR you answer the questions online and get SSA's official PDF with your answers printed in. You then sign it in ink and deliver it yourself. VergeHR doesn't submit anything to SSA.

Official Sources

Blank form (PDF), published by Social Security Administration (SSA): https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-8.pdf
Official instructions and guidance: https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-8.html
Edition shown on this page: Form SSA-8 (12-2024) UF, OMB No. 0960-0013 (checked 2026-09-28).

VergeHR is not affiliated with or endorsed by Social Security Administration (SSA) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-09-28.