How to use the burial benefit calculator
When a worker dies from a job related injury or illness, workers' compensation pays a burial or funeral benefit to whoever paid for the funeral. Enter the flat amount your state allows and the actual funeral cost to see how much is reimbursed and how much is left over.
Legal basis - burial benefits are set by each state workers' compensation act as a flat dollar amount, commonly somewhere between $3,000 and $10,000 and higher in a few states. Two federal systems give fixed anchors: FECA pays funeral expenses up to $800 under 5 U.S.C. §8134(a), and the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act caps reasonable funeral expenses at $3,000 under 33 U.S.C. §909. Figures are current as of September 2026, and your state may differ, so check your state statute and edit the amount above.
Korea takes a different approach and pays 120 days of the worker's average wage within a notified ceiling and floor, so a US flat benefit is usually the closer comparison point rather than a wage based formula. This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney or your state workers' compensation board about your specific situation.
Frequently asked questions
Most states pay the person or funeral home that actually incurred the expense, which is often but not always a surviving family member. Keep the itemized funeral invoice and proof of payment, because the claim is usually reimbursement based.
Yes. The burial benefit covers funeral costs only and is paid on top of any weekly death benefits that surviving dependents receive, which are calculated from the worker's average weekly wage.