topic $255 SSA Death Benefit - Did not receive a 1099 in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

$255 SSA Death Benefit - Did not receive a 1099

CindyKR — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:52:49 GMT

I received a SSA Death Benefit in Jan 2023. I have not received a 1099.
TurboTax is asking, "Did you receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits in 2023?"
One suggestion is Survivor's benefits. Is that what the $255 SSA Death Benefit is?
If so, I did not receive a SSA-1099. How do I deal with it?

Re: $255 SSA Death Benefit - Did not receive a 1099

CatinaT1 — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 19:59:01 GMT

This is not taxable and you will not get a form.

Survivor benefits are paid to children under 18 whose parents have died.

Re: $255 SSA Death Benefit - Did not receive a 1099

CindyKR — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 00:09:58 GMT

Thanks for letting me know I did not need to report the death benefit on my federal taxes. I did need to include it for informational purposes on my state taxes.

I'm not sure if you were just adding information for other reasons when you mentioned that the benefit is paid to children. But, to clarify, I am the surviving spouse. A one-time lump-sum death payment of $255 can be paid to the surviving spouse if they were living with the deceased, which I was.

https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/survivors/