Guide

Social Security Death Benefit and Reporting a Death

What Is the Social Security Death Benefit and How Do You Report a Death?

The Social Security death benefit is a one-time $255 lump-sum payment to a surviving spouse, or to eligible children if there's no spouse, and you must apply within 2 years of the death. Funeral homes usually report the death to Social Security for you; if not, call 800-772-1213. Eligible family members may also get monthly survivor benefits, which you apply for by phone or at a Social Security office.

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Reporting a Death to Social Security

Start here, because it’s usually the easiest part. Social Security says funeral homes generally report the death for you, so most families don’t need to do anything to notify the agency. Ask the funeral director to confirm they’ve sent the report.

If no funeral home is involved, or it didn’t report for some reason, call Social Security at 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778). Lines are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., in most U.S. time zones. Have four details ready:

  • The full name of the person who died
  • Their Social Security number
  • Their date of birth
  • Their date of death

If you live outside the United States, contact a Federal Benefits Unit or call Social Security’s International Call Center at +1-855-522-6936. If the person was a U.S. citizen, also report the death to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

The Social Security Death Benefit: The $255 Lump-Sum Payment

The death benefit is a one-time payment of $255. Social Security describes it as help with costs when a spouse or parent dies.

Who can get it Rule
Surviving spouse living in the same home Eligible
Surviving spouse living apart Eligible if they can get benefits on the record of the person who died
Child, if there’s no eligible spouse 17 or younger; 18 or 19 and in school (K-12) full time; or any age with a disability that began at 21 or younger

Deadline: you must apply within 2 years of the death.

How to apply: Social Security’s lump-sum page has an online application that requires you to sign in to your account. You can also call 800-772-1213 and tell the representative you want to apply for a lump-sum death payment.

The payment goes to the spouse or child, not to a funeral home or the estate. If you’re also applying for monthly survivor benefits, ask for the lump sum in the same conversation.

What Happens to the Last Social Security Payment After Death

This is the step that surprises families. Social Security can’t pay benefits for the month of death. Because benefits are paid the month after they’re due, the last payment often arrives after the person has died.

Social Security’s example: if the person died in July, the payment received in August is the payment for July, and it must be returned. Any later payments go back too.

  • Direct deposit: tell the bank or credit union as soon as possible so it can return payments received after the death.
  • Paper check: return it to Social Security.

The 2026 payment schedule shows which day each month’s payment lands, which helps you spot a payment that arrived after the death.

Who Can Get Monthly Survivor Benefits

Survivor benefits are monthly payments to family members of someone who worked and paid Social Security taxes. They’re worth far more than the lump sum over time.

Spouses may qualify if they:

  • are 60 or older, or 50 to 59 with a disability,
  • were married at least 9 months before the death, and
  • didn’t remarry before 60 (or 50 if they have a disability).

A spouse caring for the deceased’s child may qualify at any age and regardless of how long they were married.

Ex-spouses who were married to the worker for at least 10 years may qualify.

Children may qualify if they’re unmarried and 17 or younger, 18 or 19 and in school (K-12) full time, or any age with a disability that began before 22. In some cases stepchildren, adopted children and grandchildren qualify too.

Dependent parents may qualify at 62 or older if the child who died supported them financially.

How Much Survivor Benefits Pay

The amount depends on the earnings record of the person who died.

Survivor Share of the deceased’s benefit
Spouse at 60 Starts at 71.5%
Spouse at 61 Over 75%
Spouse at 63 Over 80%
Spouse at 65 Over 90%
Spouse at full retirement age for survivors (66 to 67) Up to 100%
Child Generally 75%

A family maximum caps the total. Social Security’s survivors booklet puts it between 150% and 180% of the deceased worker’s benefit, and everyone’s payment may be lowered to stay under it. Ex-spouses don’t count toward the family maximum.

If you qualify for survivor benefits and another benefit, such as your own retirement, you get the higher one, not both. You can switch later, for example taking survivor benefits first and moving to your own retirement at 70.

Working while you collect: survivor benefits have an earnings limit before full retirement age. In 2026, if you’re under full retirement age all year, Social Security deducts $1 for every $2 you earn above $24,480.

Survivors 65 or older, or with a disability or end-stage renal disease, may also get Medicare on the deceased’s work record.

How to Apply for Survivor Benefits

Apply promptly. Social Security’s survivors booklet says that for some claims it pays from the date you apply, not the date of death. You can apply by phone or at any Social Security office. Don’t wait until you’ve gathered everything; Social Security will help you get what’s missing.

If you already get spouse benefits on the deceased’s record, Social Security switches you to survivor benefits when the death is reported. If you get benefits on your own work record, call or visit, because you may be able to get more as a survivor, and you must complete an application.

Social Security needs original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them:

  1. Proof of death, from the funeral home or a death certificate
  2. Your Social Security number and the deceased’s
  3. Your birth certificate
  4. Your marriage certificate, if you’re a surviving spouse
  5. Divorce papers, if you’re applying as a surviving divorced spouse
  6. Dependent children’s Social Security numbers and birth certificates
  7. The deceased’s W-2 forms or federal self-employment tax return for the most recent year
  8. Your bank name and account number for direct deposit

After approval, report changes such as marriage, income or custody. If a child turns 18 while still in K-12, form SSA-1372 asks to keep their benefits.

Watch for scams after a death. Social Security’s scam page warns about callers who claim to be from an agency, say there’s a problem, pressure you to act now and demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency or cash. Hang up and report it at oig.ssa.gov/report.

When Something Goes Wrong

A living person is listed as dead. Social Security’s death records come from many sources, and a small share are wrong. SSA told Congress in 2015 that about 0.35 percent of new death reports are later corrected. If benefits stop because of a mistaken death report, contact your local Social Security office promptly and bring identification so staff can review the record with you.

Payments keep arriving after the death. Tell the bank and Social Security. Every payment for the month of death and later months goes back.

You missed the 2-year window for the $255. Social Security’s page sets the lump-sum deadline at 2 years from the death. Monthly survivor benefits are a separate claim, so apply for those right away, because some survivor claims pay only from the date you apply.

Do You Need to Visit a Social Security Office?

Often, yes, for survivor benefits. Social Security takes survivor applications by phone or at any office, and an office visit lets staff see your original documents. Call ahead for an appointment; office hours and appointments explains how.

Use the office finder to find the nearest location. Of the 1,231 offices listed, 1,194 keep standard hours of Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Examples:

Pack using the what to bring checklist. If you’d rather start by phone, the Social Security phone number guide covers the best times to call. Researching an older death instead? The Social Security Death Index guide explains how to look up records and order a deceased person’s SS-5.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Gets the $255 if There Is No Spouse?

A child of the person who died may be eligible if they are 17 or younger, 18 or 19 and in school (K-12) full time, or any age with a disability that began at age 21 or younger.

Can I Apply for the Lump-Sum Death Payment Online?

Yes. Social Security's lump-sum page has an online application that requires you to sign in to your account. You can also call 800-772-1213 and say you want to apply for a lump-sum death payment.

Do I Have to Return the Last Social Security Payment After Death?

Usually yes. Social Security can't pay benefits for the month of death, and benefits are paid the month after they're due. If the person died in July, the payment that arrives in August is for July and must be returned.

Does the Death Benefit Pay for the Funeral?

It's a one-time $255 payment meant to help with costs when a spouse or parent dies. It goes to the eligible spouse or child, not to the funeral home.

Can a Divorced Spouse Get Survivor Benefits?

An ex-spouse who was married to the worker for at least 10 years may be eligible. Age, remarriage and caring for the worker's child also affect eligibility.

Can I Get Survivor Benefits and My Own Retirement at the Same Time?

You won't get both added together. If you're eligible for survivor benefits and another benefit, you choose the higher payment, and you can switch later, for example from survivor benefits to your own retirement at age 70.

Keep Reading

Sources

  1. SSA: What to do when someone dies
  2. SSA: Lump-sum death payment
  3. SSA: Who can get Survivor benefits
  4. SSA: What you could get from Survivor benefits
  5. SSA: Survivors Benefits (Publication EN-05-10084)
  6. SSA: What You Need to Know When You Get Retirement or Survivors Benefits (EN-05-10077)
  7. SSA: How Work Affects Your Benefits, 2026 (EN-05-10069)

Independent site, not affiliated with the Social Security Administration. Office addresses, phone numbers and hours come from SSA's public office data. To apply for benefits or manage your record, go to SSA directly at ssa.gov.