[patriot_wes]

"The undertaker only needs it to file for the $200 death benefit"

You swerved into another valuable truth you sly dog. Pay into SS all those years, die the day after you retire and the gov't gives you a puny couple hundred books. & the amerikan sheep say "gee what can we do about it?"

And you think Gene is nuts!

[Neets]

And you think Gene is nuts!

And you DON'T????

[ScottFromSpokane]

Pay into SS all those years, die the day after you retire and the gov't gives you a puny couple hundred books.

Hey, buddy, if you're an American, how come you post with a Geordie accent, huh?

[SendShaqtoIraq]

"Pay into SS all those years, die the day after you retire and the gov't gives you a puny couple hundred books'

Not quite true. This benefit is ONLY paid if the person who dies has a LIVING spouse.

[drjimmy]

Pay into SS all those years, die the day after you retire and the gov't gives you a puny couple hundred books.

What kind of books does the government give you? And why do you care anyway? You won't be doing much reading at that point.

[Fog Nozzle]

The $255 "death benefit" is payable only to a spouse who was living with the beneficiary at the time of death; a spouse not living with the beneficiary if that spouse was receiving SS benefits based on the deceased's work record; a child (or children) who is eligible for benefits on the deceased's work record. The undertaker can't claim it.