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What happens to…

What happens to Social Security when someone dies?

Social Security payments stop with the month of death. No benefit is paid for the month the person died, so a payment that arrives the following month has to be returned. Usually the funeral home reports the death. A surviving spouse or child may get a one-time $255 payment and may qualify for monthly survivors benefits.

Last checked . General information, not legal or financial advice. Rules vary by state.

Quick facts

  • Social Security doesn't pay benefits for the month of death, so a payment for that month has to be returned (42 U.S.C. § 402, as of 2026).
  • A surviving spouse or child may get a one-time $255 death payment, and must apply within two years of the death (42 U.S.C. § 402, as of 2026).
  • A death can be reported to Social Security only by phone, at 1-800-772-1213, or in person (USAGov, as of 2026).
  • Usually the funeral home reports the death to Social Security (USAGov, as of 2026).

Your next step

Who reports a death to Social Security?

Usually the funeral home. Give the funeral director the person's Social Security number, and they report the death to the Social Security Administration. If that doesn't happen, report it yourself as soon as you can.

You can report a death only by phone or in person, not online. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit a local Social Security office.

You can make the report before you have the death certificate, but you will need it later. Social Security also passes the report on to Medicare.

What happens to the Social Security payment for the month of death?

It goes back. Under the Social Security Act, benefits run through the month before the month of death. USAGov says a payment for the month of death that arrives after the person died has to be sent back.

  1. If the money came by direct deposit, tell the bank right away and ask it to return the payment for the month of death and any later payments.
  2. If it came as a paper check, don't cash it. Follow Social Security's instructions for returning it.

Who gets the $255 death payment and survivors benefits?

The law sets a one-time death payment of $255. It goes first to a widow or widower who was living in the same household. If there isn't one, it goes to a spouse or child who can get monthly benefits on the person's record for the month of death.

You have to apply within two years of the death, unless you were already getting spouse benefits on that record. Ask about it when you report the death.

Monthly survivors benefits are separate from the $255 payment. A widow or widower, children and some other family members can qualify, based on the person's work record. Ask about them when you report the death, and Social Security will tell you who qualifies and what to bring.

Questions people ask

Do you get Social Security for the month someone dies?
No. Social Security doesn't pay benefits for the month of death. A payment for that month has to be returned.
Does the funeral home notify Social Security of a death?
Usually, yes, if you give the funeral director the person's Social Security number. If they don't, report it yourself by phone or in person.
Can you report a death to Social Security online?
No. Social Security only accepts reports of death by phone or in person.
More questions
Who gets the $255 Social Security death benefit?
A widow or widower who lived with the person. If there isn't one, a spouse or child who can get benefits on the person's record. You must apply within two years.
Do I need to tell Medicare separately?
No. Social Security handles death reports for both Social Security and Medicare.
Sources (3)
  1. USAGov: Report the death of a Social Security or Medicare beneficiary
  2. USAGov: Agencies to notify when someone dies
  3. 42 U.S.C. § 402, Social Security benefits and the lump-sum death payment (Cornell LII)

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