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Social Security when someone dies: reporting the death, returned payments and the $255 benefit

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General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Last reviewed Oct 30, 2026.

1. Report the deathFederal law

1. Ask the funeral home. Give the funeral director the person’s Social Security number. Funeral homes generally report deaths to Social Security, so you often don’t need to.
2. If no funeral home reports it, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or contact a local office. Have the person’s name, Social Security number, date of birth and date of death. Social Security takes death reports by phone or in person only, not online or by email.
3. You can start the report without the death certificate, but you’ll need it later to complete the report.
4. Death outside the U.S.: contact a Federal Benefits Unit or call +1-855-522-6936. For a U.S. citizen, also report the death to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

• Funeral homes generally report deaths; what to give SSA by phone; international contacts. Source: SSA – What to do when someone dies, checked Oct 30, 2026.
• Reports by phone or in person only; you can begin without the death certificate but will need it later. Source: USAGov – Report the death of a Social Security or Medicare beneficiary, checked Oct 30, 2026.

2. The last payment: what has to go backFederal law

Benefits are paid a month behind. The payment that arrives in August is the benefit for July. Because Social Security can’t pay for the month of death, if the person died in July, the August payment must be returned, even if they died near the end of July.

• Direct deposit: tell the bank or credit union as soon as possible and ask it to return the payment for the month of death and any later payments.
• Paper check: don’t cash it. Return it to Social Security.
• Money due but never paid (for example, a payment the bank sent back that was really owed for an earlier month): family members or the estate claim it on Form SSA-1724, sent to a local Social Security office.

Who gets an unpaid benefit, in order: (1) a surviving spouse who lived with the person, or who was getting benefits on the same record for the month of death; (2) children getting benefits on the same record; (3) parents getting benefits on the same record; (4) any other surviving spouse; (5) other children; (6) other parents; (7) the legal representative of the estate. A Medicare premium refund follows a different order, starting with the estate’s legal representative.

• No benefit for the month of death; the August payment for July must be returned; ask the bank to return direct deposits. Source: USAGov – Report the death of a Social Security or Medicare beneficiary, checked Oct 30, 2026.
• Form SSA-1724, the payment priority order for amounts due and for Medicare premium refunds, and where to send it. Source: SSA – Form SSA-1724, checked Oct 30, 2026.

3. The $255 lump-sum death paymentFederal law

• A spouse who lived in the same home may get a one-time payment of $255. A spouse living elsewhere may qualify if they can get benefits on the record of the person who died.
• If there is no spouse, a child may qualify if age 17 or younger, 18 or 19 and in school (K–12) full time, or any age with a disability that began at 21 or younger.
• Deadline: apply within 2 years of the death, through your online account or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

• $255 amount, who qualifies, 2-year deadline, how to apply. Source: SSA – Lump-sum death payment, checked Oct 30, 2026.

4. Monthly survivor benefitsFederal law

How to apply: survivor benefits can’t be applied for online. Call 1-800-772-1213 or contact a local Social Security office.

• Survivor eligibility for spouses, ex-spouses, children and dependent parents. Source: SSA – Who can get Survivor benefits, checked Oct 30, 2026.
• Survivor benefits can’t be applied for online; call or visit a local office. Source: SSA – Who is eligible for survivors benefits and how do I apply?, checked Oct 30, 2026.

Checklist

1. Confirm the funeral home reported the death, or call Social Security yourself.
2. Tell the bank to return any payment for the month of death or later.
3. Ask whether any benefit is owed for earlier months and file Form SSA-1724 if so.
4. Spouse or eligible child: apply for the $255 payment within 2 years.
5. Ask about monthly survivor benefits for a spouse, ex-spouse, children or dependent parents.
6. Order certified death certificates for other agencies and companies.

Does the state matter?

Social Security is a federal program, so these rules are the same in New Hampshire, California, Texas, Florida, Ohio and every other state.

Related: Death certificates for estate matters · Final tax return · Executor checklist