To amend title II of the Social Security Act to increase to $1,000 the maximum amount of the lump-sum death benefit and to allow for payment of such a benefit, in the absence of an eligible surviving spouse or child, to the legal representative of the estate of the deceased individual.

May 7, 2003

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

To amend title II of the Social Security Act to increase to $1,000 the maximum amount of the lump-sum death benefit and to allow for payment of such a benefit, in the absence of an eligible surviving spouse or child, to the legal representative of the estate of the deceased individual.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM LUMP-SUM DEATH BENEFIT AND ELIGIBILITY OF LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE OF ESTATE.

Section 202(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(i)) is amended--

(1) by striking `$255' and inserting `$1,000';

(2) in paragraph (1), by striking `or' at the end;

(3) in paragraph (2), by striking `death.' and inserting `death; or'; and

(4) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph:

`(3) if there is no person who qualifies for payment under paragraph (1) or (2), or if such person dies before receiving payment, to the legal representative of the estate of the deceased individual, if any.'.

SEC. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.

The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

END