Last verified 2026-07-13; facts checked against the primary sources below
How to report a death to Social Security
Last verified: July 13, 2026
The short answer: In most cases the funeral home reports the death for you — just give them the deceased's Social Security number. Otherwise, call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778); death reports are accepted only by phone or in person, never online or by email. Social Security does not pay for the month someone dies, so the payment that arrives the following month must go back.
How do you report a death to Social Security?
| Method | How |
|---|---|
| Funeral home (usual path) | Give the funeral director the deceased's Social Security number; they report it to SSA (usa.gov) |
| Phone | 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday–Friday, 8 AM–7 PM local time (disasterassistance.gov) |
| In person | Your local Social Security office (usa.gov) |
SSA does not accept death reports by email or online (usa.gov).
Even if the funeral home reports the death, call SSA yourself if anyone in the family may qualify for survivor benefits — those require an application and are not automatic.
Which Social Security payment must go back?
SSA cannot pay benefits for the month a recipient dies, no matter the date. If your parent died in July, the payment received in August (which pays for July) must be returned (usa.gov).
| How benefits arrived | What to do |
|---|---|
| Direct deposit | Notify the bank as soon as possible and ask it to return the month-of-death payment and any later ones (usa.gov) |
| Paper check | Do not cash any check for the month of death or later; return it to SSA (usa.gov) |
In practice, SSA often reclaims the deposit from the bank account automatically once the death is reported. This is one reason not to rush to empty or close the account — see closing a bank account after a death.
Payments for months before the month of death that were due but never received can be claimed by eligible survivors with form SSA-1724. Complete the form and contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or a local office for the correct submission channel for the claim.
Who gets the $255 lump-sum death payment?
A one-time payment of $255 may be available (disasterassistance.gov):
- First priority: a surviving spouse who was living with the deceased (or was already receiving benefits on their record)
- If there is no eligible spouse: certain dependent children
It is not automatic — you must call 1-800-772-1213 to apply (disasterassistance.gov). The application deadline is 2 years from the date of death (ssa.gov).
Who qualifies for survivor benefits?
Surviving spouses and minor children may be eligible for monthly survivor benefits based on the deceased's earnings record (usa.gov). You cannot apply for survivor benefits online — call 1-800-772-1213 or visit a local office (ssa.gov FAQ).
Categories that commonly qualify:
- A surviving spouse age 60 or older, age 50–59 with a qualifying disability, or of any age while caring for the deceased's child who is under 16 or has a disability. A spouse's payment generally ranges from 71.5% to 100% of the deceased worker's benefit depending on claiming age (SSA survivor eligibility).
- An unmarried child age 17 or younger, age 18–19 while attending K–12 full time, or any age if a qualifying disability began at age 21 or younger (SSA survivor eligibility).
- A parent age 62 or older who depended on the deceased worker for at least half of their support; SSA requires proof of the support relationship (SSA benefits for parents).
The amount depends on the deceased's earnings record and the survivor's age. When you call, have the deceased's Social Security number, your own, and a certified death certificate available.
One caution: a surviving spouse already receiving their own retirement benefit generally receives the higher of the two amounts, not both. Ask SSA to compute both before choosing.
The Estate Desk handles this for California families. theestatedesk.com