Death benefits are sums which are paid out to the survivors of a decedent, classically the spouse and/or children of the deceased, although death benefits may also be paid to parents or business partners. There are a variety of ways to obtain death benefits, depending on one's nationality and employment, ranging from purchasing life insurance, to applying for death benefits from government agencies. Many people are encouraged to think about death benefits if they have dependent children or a spouse who might be financially impacted by a death.

The idea behind death benefits is that when a wage-earner dies, it can be very difficult for the survivors to cope. In a family with only one wage-earner, a death can be devastating, forcing the survivors to seek work to support themselves, and even in a house with multiple incomes, it can still present a blow. Death benefits are designed to help people support themselves, and they may provide total support, or just enough help for the survivors to get on their feet and become independent.

Death benefits may come in the form of a periodic payment, known as an annuity, which is usually issued once a month. They can also be presented in a lump sum. Generally, people have an option to choose one or the other when establishing a death benefits plan. Survivors should be aware that some death benefits are considered taxable; it's a good idea to consult an accountant or attorney about tax responsibility.

Life insurance is one of the simplest ways to get death benefits. In a life insurance policy, one or more people are named as the beneficiaries in the event of a death, and these individuals will receive death benefits after the policy-holder passes away. Some employers also offer death benefits as part of their compensation packages, often in the form of a partial or full salary paid to a spouse or another surviving family member. Some governments provide a lump sum death benefit to help with funeral costs, or to support minor children until they come of age.

Government agencies, especially the military, classically also provide death benefits. If a member of the military dies while on active duty, survivors will be entitled to death benefits, and military retirees can also buy into death benefit plans.

Many people find death benefits extremely helpful. However, they are sometimes exploited. People should be aware when planning funerals that many funeral homes research death benefits packages extensively, and they may be aware of exactly how much money a surviving family member has access to. If a quoted price for a funeral is suspiciously similar to a lump sum death benefit or a funeral assistance benefit, survivors may want to push for a price list, which they are entitled to see by law in many nations, or they may want to take their business elsewhere. Hospitals are also unafraid to push for as much money as possible from surviving family members after someone has died from an illness or catastrophic accident, and the accounts payable department is often skilled at finding out how much money can be extracted.