How to Notify Social Security of a Death (and the $255 Benefit)

Social Security usually finds out about a death through the funeral home — but that report doesn't always go through cleanly, and acting on it directly matters both to stop payments correctly and to claim a benefit most families don't know exists.

How the death gets reported

In most cases, the funeral home reports the death directly to Social Security as part of handling the arrangements. Even so, it's worth calling to confirm the report actually went through and to formally apply for any benefits — don't assume it's fully handled on your behalf.

Reporting it yourself

A death cannot be reported to Social Security online. If no funeral home is involved, or you want to confirm directly, call 1-800-772-1213 (Monday–Friday, roughly 8 a.m.–7 p.m. in most time zones) with the deceased's name, Social Security number, date of birth, and date of death.

Why acting promptly matters

Any Social Security payment received for the month of death or any month after generally has to be returned — letting a direct deposit continue can create a real repayment obligation for whoever controls that account, so reporting the death promptly helps stop payments at the right point.

The $255 lump-sum death payment

Social Security offers a one-time $255 payment to help with final expenses, available when the deceased had enough work credits to be insured under Social Security. Priority for who receives it: a surviving spouse who was living with the deceased gets first priority; a spouse living apart may still qualify if eligible for survivor benefits on the deceased's record; if there's no spouse, an eligible surviving dependent child may receive it instead.

How and when to apply

Apply online through a my Social Security account or by calling 1-800-772-1213. The application must be filed within 2 years of the death — after that window, the payment is generally no longer available.

Let Estate Assist handle the rest

Estate Assist reads the estate's documents, builds a personalized checklist, and drafts the letters you need — so you're not piecing this together alone.

Start your free action plan →

Frequently asked questions

Is the $255 payment automatic?

No — it has to be actively applied for, and only within 2 years of the death. It's easy to miss since the amount is small and many families don't know it exists.

What if Social Security payments continued after the death?

Report the death as soon as possible and be prepared to return any payment received for the month of death or later — contact Social Security directly for guidance on returning a specific payment.