How to Notify Social Security of a Death (And What Happens Next)

You need to notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) as soon as possible after someone dies. Here is how:

• Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Expect wait times of 15-45 minutes.
• You cannot report a death online. Despite SSA handling nearly everything else digitally, death reporting must be done by phone or in person at a local Social Security office.
• Have this information ready: The deceased's Social Security number, date of birth, date of death, city and state of death, and your relationship to the deceased.

Most people don't know: In many cases, the funeral home reports the death to Social Security on your behalf as part of their process. Ask your funeral director if they have already done this. Even if they have, you may still need to call to discuss survivor benefits and payment adjustments.

Social Security benefits stop in the month of death. Here is what that means practically:

• If the person died on any day of the month, the benefit for that entire month must be returned. Social Security pays one month behind — so a check received in March is actually the February payment. If someone dies in February, the February benefit (paid in March) must be returned.
• Direct deposit payments that arrive after death must be returned to SSA. Contact the bank and ask them to return the payment. If the money has been spent, you will need to arrange repayment with SSA.
• Paper checks received after death should not be cashed. Return them to SSA.

The $255 lump-sum death payment: SSA pays a one-time death benefit of $255. Yes, just $255 — this amount has not been updated since 1954. It can be paid to a surviving spouse who was living with the deceased, a surviving spouse eligible for benefits, or a dependent child. You must apply for this — it is not automatic.

This is the part most people miss — and it can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. Surviving family members may be eligible for monthly survivor benefits based on the deceased's work record.

Who Qualifies

• Surviving spouse age 60+ (or age 50+ if disabled): Monthly benefits based on the deceased's record. At full retirement age, this equals 100% of the deceased's benefit amount.
• Surviving spouse at any age caring for the deceased's child under 16: Monthly benefits regardless of the spouse's age.
• Unmarried children under 18 (or up to 19 if still in high school): Monthly benefits up to 75% of the deceased's benefit amount.
• Disabled adult children: If the disability began before age 22, they may receive benefits on the deceased parent's record.
• Dependent parents age 62+: If the deceased was providing at least half their support.
• Ex-spouses: If the marriage lasted 10+ years and the ex-spouse is unmarried, they may qualify for survivor benefits.

How Much

The amount depends on the deceased's lifetime earnings and the survivor's age when they start collecting. A surviving spouse at full retirement age receives 100% of the deceased's benefit. At age 60, it is about 71.5%. Children receive 75% each, subject to a family maximum.

Most people don't know: If you are already receiving Social Security on your own record and your deceased spouse's benefit was higher, you can switch to survivor benefits. SSA will not suggest this — you have to ask. This strategy can increase your monthly income by hundreds of dollars.

When you claim survivor benefits affects how much you receive for the rest of your life. This decision is worth getting right.

• You can claim as early as age 60 (50 if disabled), but your benefit will be permanently reduced — about 71.5% of the full amount at age 60.
• Waiting until full retirement age (66-67 depending on birth year) gives you 100% of the deceased's benefit.
• You can claim survivor benefits first, then switch to your own retirement benefits later (or vice versa). This "claim one now, claim the other later" strategy can maximize your lifetime income. For example, you might take reduced survivor benefits at 60 and then switch to your own higher benefit at 70.

The rules are complex enough that a one-hour consultation with a Social Security specialist or fee-only financial planner can pay for itself many times over. The SSA's own website has a survivor benefits calculator that can estimate your amounts.

• Spending a benefit payment that arrives after death. SSA will reclaim it, sometimes months later, and you will owe the full amount plus potential penalties.
• Not applying for survivor benefits. SSA does not automatically start paying survivor benefits — you must apply. Families leave billions on the table nationally by not knowing they qualify.
• Claiming at the wrong time. Taking survivor benefits at 60 instead of waiting until full retirement age can cost tens of thousands over a lifetime. Run the numbers before deciding.
• Not checking the deceased's earnings record. Errors in Social Security records are more common than you think. If the deceased's benefit seems low, request a detailed earnings statement and verify it matches their actual work history.
• Forgetting about ex-spouses. If you were married for 10+ years, you may qualify for survivor benefits on your ex-spouse's record — even if they remarried. Many people do not realize this.