How to Report the death of a Social Security or Medicare beneficiary Once you have lost the be loved one who was Beneficiary of Social Security or Medicare there Step have to be followed to notify the Social Security or Medicare Administration,Learn when and how to report a death, and what benefits we offer to eligible family members.
Reporting the Death of a Social Security Beneficiary
Notifying Social Security about a death consists of the following steps:
· Report the death by phone or in person.
· Review Social Security payments.
· Watch for the one-time death benefit.
· Arrange benefits for family members.
Funeral homes generally tell us when someone dies. So, you don’t typically need to report a death to us.
If a funeral home isn’t involved or doesn’t report the death for some reason, you should call us and provide the name, Social Security number, date of birth, and date of death for the person who died.
Call +1 800-772-1213
Call TTY +1 800-325-0778 if you’re deaf or hard of hearing.
Available in most U.S. time zones Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., in English, Spanish, and other languages.
Outside the United States
If you live outside the United States, contact a Federal Benefits Unit. If the person who died was a U.S. citizen, you should also report the death to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Eligible Social Security survivors include
Social Security Administration. “If You Are the Survivor.”
- Widows and widowers age 60 or older (50 or older if disabled)
- Surviving divorced spouses (in certain situations)
- Widows and widowers of any age who are caring for the deceased’s child who is under age 16 or is disabled and receiving benefits
- Unmarried children of the deceased beneficiary (in certain situations)
- Stepchildren, grandchildren, and step-grandchildren (in certain situations)
- Parents aged 62 or older who were depending on the deceased beneficiary for at least half their support
These payments can be made on a monthly basis with amounts based on the benefits the deceased beneficiary was receiving and their relationship to the survivor. Here’s an overview of how survivor benefit amounts compare:6
- Widows and widowers who are of full retirement age or older can receive 100% of the deceased beneficiary’s benefit amount.
- Widows and widowers between age 60 and full retirement age can receive 71.5% to 99% of the deceased beneficiary’s benefit amount.
- Disabled widows and widowers between age 50 and 59 can receive 71.5% of the deceased beneficiary’s benefit amount.
- Widows and widowers caring for a child under 16 can receive 75% of the deceased beneficiary’s benefit amount.
- Children under age 18 (or 19, if still in secondary school) can receive 75% of the deceased beneficiary’s benefit amount.
- Children who are disabled can receive 75% of the deceased beneficiary’s benefit amount.
- Dependent parents age 62 or older can receive 75% of the deceased beneficiary’s benefit amount each, or 82.5% if only one parent survives.
Benefits for surviving family members
Lump-sum death payment
A spouse might get a one-time death benefit payment of $255. If there’s no spouse, some children may be eligible, including those who are:
- Age 17 or younger, or
- Ages 18–19 and in school (K–12) full time, or
- Any age if they developed a disability at age 21 or younger.
A spouse who doesn’t live in the same home may be eligible if they can get benefits based on the record of the person who died.
How to Apply for Social Security Survivor Benefits
If you think you might be eligible to receive Social Security survivor benefits after the death of a beneficiary, there are some steps you’ll need to take to apply for them. The first is reporting the death to the Social Security Administration if the funeral home hasn’t done that already. You can also begin the application process at the time you report the death.
There are certain documents you’ll need to apply for Social Security survivor benefits. The documentation requirements depend on whether you’re applying for benefits as a widow or widower, as the deceased person’s parent, or as the parent of the deceased person’s child. Generally, the list includes things such as:10
- Proof of the beneficiary’s death (a death certificate)
- Proof of birth (birth certificate)
- Proof of marriage (marriage certificate)
- Proof of citizenship
- W-2s and/or self-employment tax returns
- Divorce decree if you’re applying as a divorced surviving spouse
You must apply for this payment within 2 years of the family member’s death.
Call +1 800-772-1213
Call TTY +1 800-325-0778 if you’re deaf or hard of hearing.
