Lawmakers have reintroduced the Social Security Survivor Benefits Equity Act, legislation to boost Social Security's lump-sum death benefit in 2026, from $255 to $2,900, indexing it for inflation annually thereafter.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Gabe Amo, D-R.I., and Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., was first introduced in September 2024.
The legislation would adjust benefits for the first time in more than 70 years to cover costs associated with cremation or burials and index the SSA death benefit to the Consumer Price Index "to ensure this benefit is aligned with other Social Security benefits," such as cost-of-living adjustments, the bill's sponsors said in a statement.
“Funeral costs should be the last thing on the minds of grieving families when they lose a loved one. But because benefits designed to help folks afford funeral expenses haven't kept pace with inflation, the cost of burying a loved one has become top of mind for many mourning families,” Welch said. “This commonsense bill, inspired by the experiences of Vermonters, will update Social Security death benefits to help alleviate financial burdens for families following the loss of a loved one.”
Co-sponsors of the legislation are Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.; Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Cory Booker, D-N.J.; and Ed Markey, D-Mass.
“Despite Social Security’s lump-sum death benefit remaining stagnant at $255 for over 70 years, the costs of funerals have increased ten-fold, costing thousands of dollars for grieving families,” Booker added. “No one should have to worry about increasing funeral expenses, especially after losing a loved one. This legislation would make long-overdue updates to our Social Security system to ensure survivor benefits reflect the financial and emotional challenges families face during the loss of a family member.”
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