Legal Question in Social Security Law in Massachusetts
Death benifits
My former foster son passed away this week. He was estranged from his wife and birth family. I have been his only family for some time. He was waiting for approval on an SSI claim that should have been retroactive for the past year. I have been helping him financialy as have some of his friends. I now need to pay for his final expenses. Social Security has told me that there is no funding from his claim that I can use for his final expenses. He doesn't even qualify for the $255. one time death benifit. Is there anything I can do to get his funeral expenses paid?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Death benifits
Unfortunately, there is probably little that you can expect from the Federal system. You should look to state benefits and local charitable donors.