Platts Legislation Would Improve End of Life Benefits for Social Security Recipients

Social Security Fairness Act seeks to provide better Social Security death benefits

Washington, D.C. - Late yesterday Congressman Todd Platts (PA-19) introduced House of Representatives Bill 5404 (H.R. 5404), the "Social Security Fairness Act of 2002," which seeks to provide fairer end of life benefits when Social Security recipients die.

Currently when a Social Security recipient dies, he/she does not receive Social Security benefits for the month of death, even if he/she dies on the last day of the month. "I think this part of Social Security's system is blatantly unfair and insensitive," says Congressman Platts. "Bills for the beneficiary's final month of life must still be paid, many times causing financial strain on the surviving spouse who may be on a fixed income and depending on that check. Sometimes the beneficiary's monthly check is automatically deposited after the beneficiary's death and then automatically withdrawn by the Social Security Administration without notice to the decedent's family."

H.R. 5404 would allow for Social Security benefits to continue through the month of death, with the decedent's estate receiving half of the monthly benefit if the beneficiary dies on or before the 15th of the month, or the full monthly benefit if he/she dies after the 15th of the month.

Additionally, H.R. 5404 would increase the Social Security death benefit from its current payout from $255 to a much more reasonable level of $955. "The $255 death benefit rate has not been increased since 1954," asserts Platts. "Inflation has so eroded the value of the benefit as to make it somewhat insignificant in comparison to modern-day funeral costs."

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