How the Social Security Administration is notified after a death, the role the funeral home plays, and the survivor benefits families should know about.
Who Contacts Social Security When Someone Dies?
Notifying Social Security is one of the important steps after a death — both to stop benefit payments and to claim any benefits the family is owed. Families often ask whether they need to do this themselves. Here is how it works.
The funeral home usually reports the death
In most cases, the funeral home notifies the Social Security Administration (SSA) of the death as part of filing the death certificate — you simply need to provide the deceased’s Social Security number. As your funeral home, Inspired Funeral Home can take care of this reporting for you.
Reporting the death is not the same as applying for benefits, however. The SSA must be notified so that any monthly benefits stop, but survivors still need to contact Social Security directly to claim what they may be entitled to.
Benefits survivors should know about
Depending on the situation, surviving family members may be eligible for:
- The $255 lump-sum death payment — a one-time payment that may go to a surviving spouse or, in some cases, a dependent child.
- Survivors benefits — ongoing monthly benefits for an eligible surviving spouse or dependent children.
- Adjustments if the deceased was already receiving Social Security.
To apply, survivors typically contact the Social Security Administration by phone or at a local office. Benefits are not always paid automatically, so it is worth reaching out promptly.
A note on the last payment
Social Security benefits are not prorated for the month of death, and any payment received for the month a person dies generally must be returned. When the funeral home reports the death, it helps prevent complications with overpayments.
We help you keep track
Notifying agencies is one of many details in the days after a loss. We report the death to Social Security on your behalf and can point you toward the right next steps. See our guide on what to do when someone dies, or call us any hour at (385) 853-5700.