The criteria for collecting the death benefits lies on the record of a deceased husband or wife. The record shall show that the couple must have been married to each other for more than one year. Besides the deceased person, either the wife or the husband has collected enough Social Security credits. The collection of the credits make them eligible for Social Security disability insurance. It also makes them eligible for the Social Security retirement benefits. In some cases, even if the couple was not living together or divorced, they are also eligible for the death benefits of the deceased person. If there is no widow or widower of the dead person or if the surviving partner does not qualify for the collection of the death benefits according to the above-mentioned points, the death benefits (the $255 amount) straight away go to the children of the deceased person.