In most cases, you notify Social Security when someone dies by giving the funeral director the deceased person’s Social Security number, and the funeral home reports the death to the Social Security Administration as part of its standard process.1Social Security Administration. What to Do When Someone Dies If no funeral home is involved, or the report doesn’t go through, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213. You cannot report a death online.
When the Funeral Home Handles It
Most families never place the call themselves. Once you give the funeral director the deceased’s Social Security number, the funeral home notifies SSA, and state vital records offices also transmit death information to the agency electronically.2Social Security Administration. Customer Support Manual for Internet Electronic Death Registration SSA’s own guidance says funeral homes “generally tell us when someone dies” and that families “don’t typically need to report a death.”1Social Security Administration. What to Do When Someone Dies
Don’t assume it went through, though. If benefit payments keep landing in the deceased person’s bank account weeks later, call SSA to confirm the death was reported. Families who rely entirely on the funeral home without any follow-up are the ones who end up untangling overpayments.
How to Report the Death Yourself
If no funeral home was involved, or the funeral director didn’t handle it, you have two options. There is no online form for this.
By Phone
Call 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. The TTY line for callers who are deaf or hard of hearing is 1-800-325-0778.3Social Security Administration. Contact Social Security by Phone Have the deceased person’s name, Social Security number, date of birth, and date of death ready before you call.1Social Security Administration. What to Do When Someone Dies Keeping the funeral home’s name and contact information nearby helps if the representative needs to verify details.
In Person
You can also visit a local Social Security office. Bring a certified copy of the death certificate along with the deceased person’s Social Security number. Walk-in availability varies, so call ahead to check hours or set an appointment. You can locate the nearest office through SSA’s website or by calling the main number.
Payments That Arrive After the Death
One rule catches almost every family off guard: SSA does not pay benefits for the month a person dies. Benefits are paid one month behind, so the payment that arrives in August is actually the July benefit. If the person died in July, that August payment must be returned.4Social Security Administration. What You Need to Know When You Get Retirement or Survivors Benefits
If benefits came by direct deposit, notify the bank as soon as you can. The bank is required to return any Social Security payments that arrive after it learns of the death, and in some cases SSA intercepts the payment before it reaches the account.5Social Security Administration. Title II Beneficiary Receiving EFT Payments Dies After the End of the Month but Before the Payment Date If the payment came as a paper check, don’t cash it. Return it to SSA, and the agency will tell you how when you call. Don’t spend money from a payment that has to go back; SSA has a separate process for recovering overpayments from the estate.6Social Security Administration. SSA POMS SI 02220.053
The $255 Lump-Sum Death Payment
SSA pays a one-time $255 death benefit to certain surviving family members. The application takes only a few minutes and is worth doing. You can apply through your my Social Security account or by calling 1-800-772-1213.7Social Security Administration. Lump-Sum Death Payment
The deceased must have been fully or currently insured under Social Security at the time of death. The payment goes, in order of priority, to a surviving spouse who was living with the deceased; to a surviving spouse living elsewhere who is eligible for survivor, mother’s, or father’s benefits on the deceased’s record; or, if no qualifying spouse exists, split equally among children eligible for benefits on the record. Surviving divorced spouses are not eligible. You must apply within two years of the death.8Social Security Administration. Time Limit for Applying for Lump-Sum Death Payment A surviving spouse already receiving spousal benefits the month before the death does not need to file a separate application.9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 U.S. Code 402 Otherwise, you’ll need the deceased’s Social Security number, date of birth, date and place of death, and proof of your relationship, such as a marriage or birth certificate.10Social Security Administration. Form SSA-8 – Information You Need to Apply for Lump Sum Death Benefit
Survivor Benefits Are a Separate Claim
Reporting a death and applying for survivor benefits are two different things. The notification stops payments on the deceased’s record. Ongoing monthly survivor benefits are a new claim that eligible family members have to file for, and those payments are often far more meaningful than the $255 lump sum. Surviving spouses, surviving spouses caring for the deceased’s young or disabled child, minor or disabled children, and dependent parents may all qualify depending on age, marital history, and other factors.11Social Security Administration. Who Can Get Survivor Benefits You can start the process through your online account, but you’ll need to finish by phone or in person; survivor applications cannot be completed entirely online.12Social Security Administration. Survivor Benefits
Other Agencies You Still Need to Contact
Telling SSA takes care of Social Security and Medicare records. It does not notify anyone else. Depending on the deceased person’s circumstances, you may still need to contact:
- The Department of Veterans Affairs, if the deceased received VA benefits.
- The Office of Personnel Management, if the deceased received a federal pension.
- Private pension plans and life insurance companies, each of which has its own claims process.
- Banks and financial institutions, especially those holding joint accounts or accounts in the deceased’s name alone.
- The three credit bureaus, to reduce the risk of identity theft using the deceased’s information.
USA.gov keeps a checklist of federal agencies and programs to notify after a death that can help you work through the rest.13USAGov. Agencies to Notify When Someone Dies