Who needs to report the death and when
You do not have to report a death to Social Security yourself — the funeral home, hospital, or state vital records office often does it automatically. However, if none of those happens, or if you want to make sure the report reaches Social Security quickly, you can call or visit in person.
The person who reports the death can be a family member, the executor of the estate, or anyone handling the deceased's affairs. There is no strict important date, but reporting within a few days prevents overpayments. If Social Security continues sending checks after someone dies, those payments must be returned, and the family may be asked to repay them even if they were deposited by mistake.
If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Medicare, reporting the death stops those payments and prevents duplicate checks. If the person was working and had a Social Security account but was not yet receiving benefits, reporting still matters for their family members who may be may have access to to survivor benefits.
Key Takeaways
- Funeral homes and hospitals often report deaths to Social Security automatically, but you can report it yourself by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting your local Social Security office.
- Report the death as soon as possible to stop benefit payments and prevent overpayments that the family would have to repay.
- You will need the deceased's Social Security number, date of death, and the name of the person reporting the death.
- Surviving family members may be may have access to to benefits based on the deceased's Social Security record, even if the deceased was not yet receiving benefits.
- If you report online through a funeral home portal or third-party service, follow up with Social Security directly to confirm the report was received.
How to report by phone
Call Social Security's main number at 1-800-772-1213. The line is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time. Have the deceased's Social Security number ready, along with the date of death and your relationship to the person who died.
The representative will ask for basic information: the deceased's full name, date of birth, and whether they were receiving Social Security or SSI benefits. They will also ask who is calling and why. You do not need to be a family member to report — a friend, caregiver, or anyone with the information can make the call.
After you report, ask for confirmation that the death has been recorded in Social Security's system. The representative can tell you when ready whether benefits will stop and whether any overpayments are likely. Keep the date and time of your call and the name of the representative in case you need to follow up.
How to report in person
Visit your local Social Security office with the deceased's Social Security card (or a copy) and a death certificate or obituary. You can find your nearest office at ssa.gov/locator or by calling 1-800-772-1213.
Bring a photo ID for yourself and proof of your relationship to the deceased if you are not a spouse or parent. A death certificate is the strongest proof, but Social Security will also accept a funeral home letter, obituary, or hospital discharge summary that shows the date of death.
The office staff will enter the death into the system on the spot. This is often faster than waiting on the phone, especially if you have documents with you. Ask for written confirmation that the death has been reported before you leave.
What happens after you report the death
Social Security will stop sending checks to the deceased's account within one to two weeks. If checks continue to arrive, return them to Social Security with a note that the person has died. Do not cash them.
If the deceased was receiving benefits and family members were also on the account (such as a spouse or children), those family members' benefits will continue. Social Security will review the account to see if any surviving family members now may have access to for benefits they were not receiving before.
Surviving spouses, children under 19 (or up to 23 if in school full-time), and disabled adult children may be may have access to to survivor benefits based on the deceased's work record. Social Security will contact the family if additional benefits are available, but you can also call to ask about survivor benefits.
If the funeral home reports the death
Many funeral homes report deaths to Social Security as part of their standard process. When you arrange the funeral, ask the funeral director whether they will report to Social Security. If they say yes, you do not need to call separately.
However, funeral homes do not always report when ready, and mistakes can happen. Even if the funeral home says they will report, it is wise to follow up with Social Security yourself within a week to confirm the death has been recorded. A quick phone call takes five minutes and prevents problems later.
If you used an online funeral planning service or cremation company, ask whether they report to Social Security. Some do, and some do not. If they do not, you will need to report the death yourself.
Handling overpayments and returned benefits
If Social Security sent checks after the person died, those payments are considered overpayments. The family is legally required to return them, even if the checks were deposited automatically or cashed by mistake.
Social Security will send a letter explaining the overpayment amount and asking for repayment. You can pay in full, request a payment plan, or ask Social Security to waive the overpayment if the family was not at fault and cannot afford to repay. Waiver requests are decided case by case.
If the deceased had a surviving spouse or children receiving benefits, Social Security may deduct the overpayment from their future checks instead of asking the family to pay separately. This happens automatically unless you request a different arrangement.
Reporting for someone who was not yet receiving benefits
If the deceased had a Social Security account but was not yet receiving retirement or disability benefits, you should still report the death. This stops any automatic payments and ensures the record is accurate for family members who may be may have access to to survivor benefits.
Surviving spouses, children, and in some cases parents of the deceased may may have access to for survivor benefits even if the deceased was not yet receiving benefits. Social Security determines this based on the deceased's work history and age at death. Reporting the death triggers a review of the account for survivor benefits.
Call 1-800-772-1213 and tell the representative that the deceased was not receiving benefits. Provide the same information: Social Security number, date of death, and your relationship to the person. The representative will check whether any family members may have access to for survivor benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I do not have the deceased's Social Security number?
Social Security can still record the death if you provide the full name, date of birth, and date of death. However, having the Social Security number makes the process faster and more certain. You can find it on a Social Security card, tax return, bank statement, or insurance policy.
Can I report a death online?
Social Security does not have an online form to report a death directly. You must call 1-800-772-1213 or visit an office in person. Some funeral homes and third-party services offer online portals that claim to report to Social Security, but you should confirm with Social Security directly that the report was received.
What if the person died outside the United States?
Report the death the same way — by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting an office. You will need a death certificate from the country where the person died, translated into English if necessary. Social Security may ask for additional documents to verify the death.
Do I need to report if the funeral home already did?
You do not have to, but it is a good idea to follow up within a week to make sure the report went through. Call Social Security and confirm that the death has been recorded in their system. This takes a few minutes and prevents overpayments.
What if Social Security says the person is still alive?
This can happen if the report did not go through or was entered incorrectly. Call back and ask to speak with a supervisor. Bring a death certificate to your local Social Security office if the phone line does not resolve it. Having the death officially recorded is important to stop benefit payments and prevent fraud.