$255: What's your death worth?

Approximately a month after my wife’s death in 1993, I was contacted by Social Security regarding the death benefit from my wife’s Social Security that I was entitled to. I never knew there was such a thing. I rejected getting it and they called several times and I expressed, give it to someone else, as I felt like they were saying that was what she was worth. I finally accepted the $255 to stop the calls.

I have thought about it a lot and done some research. According to what I have read, when Social Security began in about 1933 the death benefit was under $200, i.e. was about the price of a funeral at that time. If you compared the cost, inflation etc. today, $255 is A NATIONAL DISGRACE! If you have doubts about the $255, insurance companies solicit me by mail all the time and there are presentations on TV as well where they clearly state that “ the death benefit is $255 and you need the very expensive insurance to cover funeral costs and etc.”

I believe that there should be a minimum $5,000 to $10,000 death benefit or do away with it entirely. The several persons I have mentioned this to never knew there was anything and the $255 is an insult. What do you think?

B.J. ANDERTON (BING)

Pocatello