Report the death to Social Security as soon as possible after it happens
When someone dies, Social Security needs to know within a specific timeframe so they can stop payments and process any benefits owed to survivors. You do not have to wait for a death certificate to be issued — you can report the death by phone, online, or in person at a local Social Security office. The person who reports the death does not have to be a family member; it can be a funeral director, hospital social worker, or anyone handling the person's affairs.
Social Security will ask for the deceased person's name, Social Security number, date of birth, and date of death. If you are calling on behalf of someone else, have their relationship to the deceased ready. The agency processes the report and updates their records, which stops any ongoing payments and triggers a review of what survivors may be owed.
Key Takeaways
- Report a death to Social Security by calling 1-800-772-1213, visiting ssa.gov, or going to a local Social Security office in person.
- You can report the death before the death certificate arrives — Social Security does not require it to start the process.
- Funeral directors often report deaths automatically, but you should confirm the report was made rather than assume it happened.
- Survivors may be owed a one-time payment of $255, plus ongoing benefits if they were dependents or spouses of the deceased.
- Social Security will contact survivors directly if they are may have access to to benefits; you do not need to contact them separately.
Three ways to report the death
By phone: Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778 for deaf and hard of hearing callers). Have the deceased person's Social Security number and date of death ready. Wait times vary by time of day and day of week; calling early in the morning on a weekday is usually faster. The representative will record the death and ask basic questions about survivors.
Online: Visit ssa.gov and use the online death report form if you have a my Social Security account. This option is available 24 hours a day. You will need the deceased person's Social Security number and your own contact information. Social Security will send you a confirmation, and you can check the status of the report in your account.
In person: Visit your local Social Security office with a death certificate or other proof of death (hospital discharge papers, funeral home documents, or a police report all work). Bring the deceased person's Social Security card if you have it. An employee will complete the report on the spot and give you a receipt. This method is useful if you need to discuss survivor benefits at the same time.
What happens after you report the death
Social Security stops any ongoing payments to the deceased person within days of the report. If the person was receiving retirement, disability, or survivor benefits, those payments end. If a payment was already in the bank account for the month of death, Social Security may ask the family to return it, depending on the rules for that type of benefit and when the person died in the month.
Social Security then reviews the deceased person's record to see who may be may have access to to survivor benefits. Spouses, ex-spouses, children, and parents may all be owed money. The agency contacts survivors directly by mail or phone to explain what they may receive. You do not need to contact Social Security again unless you want to discuss your own benefits as a survivor.
The one-time death benefit of $255 goes to the surviving spouse if they were living with the deceased, or to a child who was receiving benefits. If there is no spouse or child, the payment goes to whoever paid for the funeral. This is a one-time payment only, not an ongoing monthly benefit.
Who should report the death
The person most likely to report is a family member — a spouse, adult child, or sibling handling the person's affairs. However, funeral directors often report deaths automatically as part of their standard process. If a funeral home is involved, ask them directly whether they have reported the death to Social Security. Do not assume they have done it; confirm it in writing or get a name and date.
If no funeral home is involved, the responsibility falls to whoever is managing the person's estate or finances. This could be a hospital social worker, nursing home staff, or a friend or neighbor if the person had no family. Social Security accepts reports from anyone with knowledge of the death.
What to do if you receive a payment after the person dies
If a Social Security payment arrives in the deceased person's bank account after they have died, do not spend it. Contact Social Security when ready at 1-800-772-1213 and explain that a payment was received after death. Social Security will tell you whether to return the money and how to do it.
If you are the executor or power of attorney for the deceased person's estate, you may be responsible for returning the overpayment. If you are a family member but not handling the estate, provide Social Security with the name and contact information of whoever is. Returning the money promptly can prevent debt collection action later.
Reporting a death for someone receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
If the deceased person was receiving SSI (a needs-based program for low-income seniors and disabled people), report the death the same way — by phone, online, or in person. SSI payments stop when ready when Social Security is notified of the death. Unlike retirement or disability benefits, SSI does not pay survivor benefits to family members.
However, if the deceased person had a spouse or children also receiving SSI, those individuals' benefits continue. Report only the death of the person who died, not the entire household. Social Security will update each person's record separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a death certificate to report the death?
No. You can report the death by phone or online without a death certificate. Social Security will accept your verbal report and begin processing. If you report in person at an office, bring a death certificate or other proof of death if you have it, but the office can accept a report without it and follow up later.
What if the funeral home already reported the death?
Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and give them the deceased person's Social Security number. They can check whether a report was already received and when. If it was, you do not need to report again. If it was not, report it yourself right away.
Can I report the death online if I do not have a my Social Security account?
You can start the online death report at ssa.gov without an account, but you will need to create one to complete it. Creating an account takes about 10 minutes and requires an email address and phone number. If you prefer not to create an account, call 1-800-772-1213 or visit a local office in person.
How long does it take for Social Security to stop the payments?
Social Security usually stops payments within one to three business days of receiving the death report. If a payment was already scheduled to deposit before the report was processed, it may still go through; Social Security will contact you about returning it if needed.
What if the person was receiving benefits under someone else's record?
If the deceased person was a spouse, child, or parent receiving benefits based on another person's work record, report the death the same way. Social Security will update that person's record and notify the primary beneficiary of any changes to their own benefits.