Report the death to Social Security as soon as possible after it happens
When someone receiving Social Security dies, you need to tell Social Security within a specific timeframe. The person who reports the death — usually a family member, funeral director, or representative — must contact Social Security directly. There is no fee for this report, and you do not need to file anything in court first.
Social Security stops the deceased person's benefit payment the month after death. If the person received a check after they died, Social Security will contact the family and ask for it back. Reporting quickly prevents overpayments that the family may later have to repay.
Family members may also be may have access to to survivor benefits based on the deceased person's Social Security record. These benefits go to a spouse, ex-spouse, children under 19 (or 19 if still in high school), or dependent parents. Reporting the death is the first step toward finding out whether anyone in the family qualifies.
Key Takeaways
- Call Social Security's main number at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office to report a death; you can also ask a funeral director to report it on your behalf.
- Have the deceased person's Social Security number and a death certificate or funeral home contact information ready when you call.
- Social Security stops the monthly benefit the month after death, and any checks received after death must be returned.
- Surviving spouses, children, and dependent parents may receive survivor benefits based on the deceased person's earnings record.
- Survivor benefits are not automatic — someone must contact Social Security to start the process.
How to report the death
You can report a death to Social Security in three ways. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778 for deaf and hard of hearing callers) and tell the representative that you are reporting a death. Walk into your local Social Security office with a death certificate or other proof of death. Or ask the funeral director to report the death — many funeral homes do this as part of their services and do not charge extra.
Have the deceased person's Social Security number ready. If you do not have it, have their full name, date of birth, and the date of death. If you are calling from a funeral home or have the death certificate in hand, you can provide that information instead. The Social Security representative will ask for the name and phone number of someone they can contact if they need more details.
Social Security processes the report and updates their records within a few days. The person who reports the death does not need to be a family member or have power of attorney — anyone with knowledge of the death can make the call.
What happens to the monthly benefit check
Social Security stops paying the deceased person's benefit the month after they die. If the person died on June 15, for example, June's check may still arrive (depending on the payment schedule), but July's check will not be sent. If a check arrives after the death, it must be returned to Social Security.
If the deceased person received benefits by direct deposit, Social Security will reverse any deposit made after the month of death. The bank will return the funds to Social Security automatically. If checks were mailed, the family should write "Deceased" on the envelope and return it to the address on the check, or bring it to the local Social Security office.
If Social Security discovers that payments were made after the death and not returned, they may contact the family asking for repayment. This is called an overpayment. Reporting the death quickly reduces the chance of a large overpayment building up.
Survivor benefits for family members
A surviving spouse can receive benefits at age 60 (or 50 if disabled), or at any age if caring for a child under 16. An ex-spouse can also receive benefits if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and the ex-spouse is at least 60 years old. A surviving spouse does not have to wait until their own full retirement age to receive a reduced benefit.
Unmarried children of the deceased can receive benefits until age 19 if they are still in high school, or until age 18 if they are not in school. Children who became disabled before age 22 can receive benefits for life. Dependent parents of the deceased can receive benefits at age 62 or older.
The amount each family member receives depends on the deceased person's earnings record and how many family members are receiving benefits. Social Security calculates a family maximum — usually 150 to 180 percent of what the deceased person was receiving — and divides it among all may be able to access family members.
How to start the survivor benefits process
After reporting the death, contact Social Security again to ask about survivor benefits for family members. Call 1-800-772-1213 or visit the local office. Have ready the Social Security numbers of all family members who might be may be able to access, along with birth certificates or other proof of relationship to the deceased person.
Social Security will ask questions about each family member's age, marital status, school enrollment (for children), and work history. They will explain which family members are may be able to access and how much each person may receive. The process usually takes a few weeks.
Survivor benefits are not paid automatically. Even if a family member is may be able to access, someone must contact Social Security to start the process. Many families miss out on benefits simply because they do not know to ask.
Documents you may need
Have the deceased person's Social Security number available, or their full name and date of birth. Bring or be ready to describe the death certificate. For family members applying for survivor benefits, have their Social Security numbers and birth dates. If applying for a child's benefits, bring a birth certificate showing the relationship to the deceased parent.
For a surviving spouse, bring a marriage certificate. For an ex-spouse, bring the divorce decree. For dependent parents, bring documents showing they depended on the deceased person for support — this might include financial records or a statement from the parent. Social Security may ask for additional documents depending on the situation.
What happens if you receive a check after reporting the death
Social Security sometimes sends a final check after the death is reported, especially if the death occurred early in the month and the check was already in the mail. This is normal and does not mean you did anything wrong. Return the check to Social Security with a note explaining that the person is deceased.
If you deposited the check by mistake, contact Social Security right away. Explain what happened and ask how to return the money. Social Security understands that these situations occur and will work with you on repayment if needed. Do not ignore the check or assume it is yours to keep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to report the death in person?
No. You can report by phone at 1-800-772-1213, in person at a local Social Security office, or by asking the funeral director to report it. Phone is usually fastest if you have the person's Social Security number or death certificate information ready.
What if the person was not receiving Social Security yet?
If the deceased person had a Social Security account but was not yet receiving benefits, you should still report the death. Family members may still be may be able to access for survivor benefits based on that person's earnings record, even if they had not started collecting yet.
Can I report someone else's death, or do I have to be a family member?
Yes, anyone can report a death to Social Security. You do not have to be a family member or have legal authority. A friend, neighbor, or anyone who knows about the death can make the call. Social Security only needs the information — they do not verify your relationship.
How long do survivor benefits last?
It depends on the family member. A surviving spouse can receive benefits for life (starting at age 60, or earlier if disabled or caring for a young child). Children receive benefits until age 18 (or 19 if in high school). Disabled adult children can receive benefits for life. Dependent parents receive benefits for life starting at age 62.
What if the deceased person owed money to Social Security?
If Social Security had overpaid the deceased person in the past, they may try to recover that debt from survivor benefits. However, they cannot take survivor benefits from a surviving spouse or child to pay a debt the deceased person owed. Contact Social Security to ask about your specific situation.