How to Notify Social Security of a Death: Steps, Lump Sum Benefit, and Payment Clawbacks

The Funeral Director Usually Handles the Initial Report

In most cases, the funeral home reports the death to the Social Security Administration on your behalf. When you provide the deceased's Social Security number during funeral arrangements, the director submits the information electronically. SSA processes these reports and adds the individual to the Death Master File.

But "usually" is doing a lot of work in that sentence. The funeral director's report doesn't always go through immediately, and it doesn't trigger every action you need. Payments issued for months the person was not entitled to must be returned. Who is responsible for an unrecovered overpayment depends on who received it and the circumstances; surviving relatives are not automatically liable just because of their relationship.

That's why you need to verify the report went through and take several follow-up steps yourself.

How to Report the Death Directly

If you need to report a death to Social Security yourself, or if you want to confirm the funeral home's report was processed:

Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. You cannot report a death online — it must be done by phone or in person at a local Social Security office.

Have the following ready:

• The deceased's full legal name and Social Security number
• Date of birth and date of death
• The deceased's last known address
• Your name, relationship to the deceased, and your own SSN (if you're a surviving spouse claiming benefits)

SSA will verify the information against their records and flag the account. Once processed, benefit payments stop and the death is recorded in the national Death Master File.

What Happens to Benefit Payments After Death

Social Security retirement, survivor, and disability benefits are paid in the month after the month they cover. No payment is due for the month of death.

If someone dies in July, the August payment (covering July) must be returned. The last payment they were entitled to receive was July's payment covering June.

If benefits were direct-deposited, notify the bank and SSA promptly. The bank may return the payment, but who is responsible for an unrecovered overpayment depends on who received it and the circumstances.

If benefits arrived by check, do not cash checks for the month of death or later. Return them to SSA.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is different: an SSI recipient remains entitled to the payment for the month of death, but any SSI payment for a later month must be returned.

SSA can recover an unpaid overpayment balance from the estate and, in some cases, from people who received benefits on the same earnings record. A surviving relative is not automatically liable just because of the family relationship. Acting quickly to stop future payments and asking SSA who must return a specific payment can prevent a longer recovery process.

The $255 Lump Sum Death Benefit

Social Security pays a one-time death benefit of $255 to eligible survivors. The amount hasn't been adjusted since 1954, so it won't cover much — but it's money you're entitled to.

Who can claim it:

• A surviving spouse who was living with the deceased at the time of death, or
• A surviving spouse who can get benefits based on the deceased's record, or
• If there is no eligible spouse, a child eligible on the deceased's record who is age 17 or younger, age 18 or 19 and a full-time K–12 student, or any age if their disability began by age 21

How to claim it:

Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local office. You'll need the deceased's SSN, a certified death certificate, and proof of your relationship. The benefit must be claimed within two years of the date of death.

If there's no eligible surviving spouse or child, the benefit simply isn't paid. It doesn't go to the estate.

Survivor Benefits Beyond the Lump Sum

The $255 payment is separate from ongoing survivor benefits, which are much more substantial. Depending on the deceased's work history and your relationship, you may be eligible for:

• Surviving spouse benefits — available at age 60 (50 if disabled), or at any age if caring for the deceased's child under 16
• Children's benefits — for unmarried children under 18 (or 19 if still in high school)
• Dependent parent benefits — for parents age 62+ who were dependent on the deceased

These benefits are based on the deceased's lifetime earnings record. A surviving spouse can receive up to 100% of the deceased's benefit amount at full retirement age.

The Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), signed January 5, 2025, repealed the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) for benefits payable from January 2024 onward. SSA began retroactive adjustments in February 2025 and has completed implementation. If your benefits were previously reduced under either offset, verify that SSA applied the adjustment and paid any retroactive benefits owed back to January 2024. If you never applied for survivor benefits because of the GPO, file a new claim; it is not automatic.

Steps to Take This Week

1. Confirm the funeral home filed the report. Call SSA to verify they have the death on record.
2. Request that direct deposit payments stop. If the deceased's bank account is still open, alert the bank as well — they can flag the account to return any post-death deposits.
3. Do not spend a payment covering the month of death or a later month. If it arrived by direct deposit, notify the bank and SSA; the estate or another person may be responsible for repayment depending on the circumstances.
4. File for the $255 lump sum death benefit if you're an eligible spouse or child.
5. Ask SSA about survivor benefits. Schedule an appointment to discuss what you or other family members may be entitled to.

In Canada, the process is similar but handled through Service Canada: notify them to stop CPP/OAS payments and apply for the CPP death benefit (currently up to $2,500). In the UK, the "Tell Us Once" service handles most government department notifications in a single transaction after you register the death.

The first week after a death is overwhelming, and Social Security is just one of dozens of notifications to make. Our First 48 Hours toolkit includes a complete notification checklist with every agency, institution, and account you need to contact — in chronological order, so nothing falls through the cracks while your brain is struggling to function.