death benefit

IPA/dˈɛθ bˈɛnɪfˌɪt/
IPA/dˈɛθ bˈɛnɪfˌɪt/

death benefit — phrase

1. a payment that goes to the person chosen to receive it when someone dies, usuall

1.phraseC1
Definition

a payment that goes to the person chosen to receive it when someone dies, usually under life cover or a retirement plan

Example

After Mei's father died, the death benefit covered the funeral bills.

death benefit covered funeral bills

The union's pension includes a death benefit for a worker's spouse.

include a death benefit in a pension plan

Common collocations
  • pay a death benefit
  • receive a death benefit
  • claim a death benefit
  • death benefit under the policy
Synonyms
  • survivor benefit

    often refers to support a spouse or child keeps receiving, not just one payment at death

  • insurance payout

    is broader and can mean any money paid on a claim, not only after a death

  • lump-sum payment

    describes one single payment, but not the reason for it

Grammar Patterns

pay a death benefit

receive a death benefit

claim a death benefit

death benefit under + plan/policy

Usage Note

Usually appears in insurance, pension, and workplace-benefit documents. Common verbs are pay, receive, claim, and include, and the money often goes to a spouse, child, or other named beneficiary.

Common Mistakes

Her pension gave funeral money to the family.
Her pension paid a death benefit to the family.
death benefit is the fixed term for this payment after a member dies.

Etymology

English

This financial phrase joins death with benefit. In modern insurance and pension language, it refers to money a plan pays because a member or policyholder has died.

First known use

1867

1867, in the meaning defined above