[bitt]

survivors will contact SS of the death in order to get the death benefit..

The amount of the payment is $255 (meh.)

[lyby]

death benefit..

The amount of the payment is $255

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When I went with my grandmother to file for her husband’s SS death benefit in 1988, she got about the same.

Well, daggum. According to the link below, in 1940, that amount was $145.79, and gradually increased to $255 in 1982, where it remains. Look what I just found!
https://www.ssa.gov/history/LumpSumPayments.html