Social security provides a $255 death benefit to a spouse or child under 18 when their loved one passes. The original lump sum death benefit was added to social security and equaled up to 3.5% of the deceased worker's covered earnings.  Then in 1954 the amount was capped to $255 and never increased to keep up with inflation.

Even if it means adding a nickel to social security payroll taxes we feel that providing a safety net to make sure every American receives at the very least a cremation removing the financial burden from families living in the poverty range, those homeless with no family, and those who are estranged from their families. This will also reduce the financial burden to State and County funds shifting the burden from tax payers to the person who passed.   

Those with life insurance, pre-paid funerals, and financial able to pay for their own funerals will simply see the benefit as a financial contribution to the family upon passing to help with other expenses. 

We, as staff of a independently owned funeral home, have seen the impacts upon families where children couldn't claim their parents to provide a proper funeral and instead have had to make the tough choice to turn them over as pauper cases to the local counties.

We are asking Congress to help ensure that every American will at least have a dignified disposition.  We feel that this program would be self sustaining and not a financial burden upon the already ballooning federal deficit.