Report the death of a Social Security or Medicare beneficiary

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To report a death, you can do one of the following:</p><ul><li>Provide the deceased person's Social Security number to the funeral director so they can report the death to the SSA.</li><li><a href=\"https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp\">Look up and contact your local Social Security office.</a> Or call the SSA's main number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to make the report.<ul><li>SSA only accepts reports of death by phone or in person. They do not accept reports by email or online.聽</li><li>If you report the death to SSA yourself instead of through a funeral director, you may do so without the deceased person鈥檚 death certificate to begin the process. But you will need it later to complete the report.</li></ul></li></ul><p>Spouses and minor children may be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits. <a href=\"https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/survivors/\">Visit the SSA's Survivors Benefits page</a> to learn more.</p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How to return a deceased person鈥檚 Social Security payment", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "<p>The SSA cannot pay benefits for the month of a recipient鈥檚 death. That means if the person died in July, the check or direct deposit received in August (which is payment for July) must be returned.</p><ul><li><a href=\"https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.01/handbook-0134.html\">Find out how to return a check to the SSA.</a></li><li>If the payment is by direct deposit, notify the financial institution as soon as possible. Ask them to return the payment for the month the recipient died and any that arrived later.</li></ul><p><a href=\"/report-a-death\">Find out what other government agencies and programs to notify after someone dies.</a></p>" } } ] } </script> </head> <body>  <noscript><iframe title="GTM" sandbox src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-W8LW6DB" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <a href="#skip-to-h1" class="usa-skipnav usa-sr-only focusable"> Skip to main content </a> <div class="usa-overlay"></div> <header class="usa-header usa-header--extended" id="header"> <div class="usa-banner-inner"> <div> <section class="usa-banner" aria-label="An official website of the United States government" id="usagov-banner"> <div class="usa-accordion"> <div class="usa-banner__header" role="banner"> <div class="usa-banner__inner"> <div class="grid-col-auto"> <img aria-hidden="true" class="usa-banner__header-flag" src="/themes/custom/usagov/images/favicon-57.png" alt="U.S Flag" /> </div> <div class="grid-col-fill tablet:grid-col-auto"> <p class="usa-banner__header-text"> An official website of the United States government </p> <p class="usa-banner__header-action usa-banner__header-action-mobile">Here's how you know</p> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="16" class="usa-banner_expand_arrow usa-banner__header-action"> <path d="M0 0h24v24H0z" fill="none"/> <path d="M16.59 8.59L12 13.17 7.41 8.59 6 10l6 6 6-6z"/> </svg> </div> <button type="button" class="usa-accordion__button usa-banner__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="gov-banner-default"> <span class="usa-banner__button-text">Here's how you know</span> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="16" class="usa-banner_expand_arrow usa-banner__button-text"> <path d="M0 0h24v24H0z" fill="none"/> <path d="M16.59 8.59L12 13.17 7.41 8.59 6 10l6 6 6-6z"/> </svg> </button> </div> </div> <div class="usa-banner__content usa-accordion__content" id="gov-banner-default"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap-lg"> <div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6"> <img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="/themes/custom/usagov/assets/img/icon-dot-gov.svg" alt="" aria-hidden="true" /> <div class="usa-media-block__body"> <p> <strong>Official websites use .gov</strong><br /> A <strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. </p> </div> </div> <div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6"> <img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="/themes/custom/usagov/assets/img/icon-https.svg" alt="" aria-hidden="true" /> <div class="usa-media-block__body"> <p> <strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong><br /> A <strong>lock</strong> ( <span class="icon-lock"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="52" height="64" viewBox="0 0 52 64" class="usa-banner__lock-image" aria-labelledby="banner-lock-description-default" focusable="false"> <title id="banner-lock-title-default">Lock</title> <desc id="banner-lock-description-default">Locked padlock icon</desc> <path fill="#000000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M26 0c10.493 0 19 8.507 19 19v9h3a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v28a4 4 0 0 1-4 4H4a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V32a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h3v-9C7 8.507 15.507 0 26 0zm0 8c-5.979 0-10.843 4.77-10.996 10.712L15 19v9h22v-9c0-6.075-4.925-11-11-11z" /> </svg> </span> ) or <strong>https://</strong> means you鈥檝e safely connected to the .gov website. 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retirement calculators </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <div class="active-trail usa-current"> <p class="usa-sr-only">current page</p> Report the death of a Social Security beneficiary </div> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/social-security-abroad"> Social Security benefits abroad </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/state-social-services"> State social service agencies </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/government-death-benefits"> Government death benefits </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/government-checks-payments"> Government checks and payments </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/report-incorrect-benefit-payments"> Report incorrect benefit payments </a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </aside> <div class="usa-layout-docs__main usa-prose desktop:grid-col-8"> <h1 class="text-red-50" id ="skip-to-h1" > <span>Report the death of a Social Security or Medicare beneficiary</span> </h1> <div id="block-usagov-content" class="block block-system block-system-main-block"> <div class="content-wrapper"> <div class="usa-prose"> <p class="usa-intro"> When someone who receives Social Security or Medicare dies, you must notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) to cancel their benefits and payments. </p> </div> <div class="usa-prose body-copy"><div data-embed-button="paragraphs" data-paragraph-id="ba3494ad-5850-4b52-b749-c177e00674ba" data-paragraph-revision-id="1060" data-entity-label="USWDS Components" data-langcode="en" data-view-mode="embed" data-entity-embed-display="entity_reference_revisions:entity_reference_revisions_entity_view" data-entity-type="embedded_paragraphs" data-entity-uuid="ba3494ad-5850-4b52-b749-c177e00674ba" data-entity-embed-display-settings="[]" class="embedded-entity"> <div class="field field--name-paragraph field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--uswds-alert paragraph--view-mode--embed paragraph--id--2551 usa-alert usa-alert--info" role="region" aria-labelledby="usa-alert--1__heading"> <div class="usa-alert__body"> <div id="usa-alert--1__heading"> <span class="usa-alert__a11y-label visually-hidden" id="usa-alert--1__a11y-label"> info </span> <h2 class="usa-alert__heading"> <div class="field field--name-field-alert-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Have you used USA.gov to find or apply for help with the loss of a loved one?</div> </h2> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-alert-body field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Share your experience with our research team to help make the process simpler after someone dies. <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1D6vYKLH1EOtSoUafYyoDi4rXMN2LCOSRQNg46xxBUww/viewform?edit_requested=true"><strong>Learn more and sign up.</strong></a></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2><strong>How to report a death to Social Security and Medicare</strong></h2><p>The SSA handles death reports for both Social Security and Medicare recipients. To report a death, you can do one of the following:</p><ul><li>Provide the deceased person's Social Security number to the funeral director so they can report the death to the SSA.</li><li><a href="https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp">Look up and contact your local Social Security office.</a> Or call the SSA's main number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to make the report.<ul><li>SSA only accepts reports of death by phone or in person. They do not accept reports by email or online. </li><li>If you report the death to SSA yourself instead of through a funeral director, you may do so without the deceased person鈥檚 death certificate to begin the process. But you will need it later to complete the report.</li></ul></li></ul><div data-embed-button="paragraphs" data-paragraph-id="428a64dc-4acd-476f-a4f2-6500a7c39fae" data-entity-label="USWDS Components" data-langcode="en" data-view-mode="embed" data-entity-embed-display="entity_reference_revisions:entity_reference_revisions_entity_view" data-entity-type="embedded_paragraphs" data-entity-uuid="428a64dc-4acd-476f-a4f2-6500a7c39fae" data-entity-embed-display-settings="[]" class="embedded-entity"> <div class="field field--name-paragraph field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--uswds-alert paragraph--view-mode--embed paragraph--id--215 usa-alert usa-alert--no-icon" role="region" aria-labelledby="usa-alert--1__heading"> <div class="usa-alert__body"> <div class="field field--name-field-alert-body field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item">Spouses and minor children may be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits. <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/survivors/">Visit the SSA's Survivors Benefits page</a> to learn more.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2><strong>How to return a deceased person鈥檚 Social Security payment</strong></h2><p>The SSA cannot pay benefits for the month of a recipient鈥檚 death. That means if the person died in July, the check or direct deposit received in August (which is payment for July) must be returned.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.01/handbook-0134.html">Find out how to return a check to the SSA.</a></li><li>If the payment is by direct deposit, notify the financial institution as soon as possible. Ask them to return the payment for the month the recipient died and any that arrived later.</li></ul><p><a href="/report-a-death">Find out what other government agencies and programs to notify after someone dies.</a></p><div data-embed-button="paragraphs" data-paragraph-id="7439045e-8677-4e68-a132-aad3294855e2" data-entity-label="USWDS Components" data-langcode="en" data-view-mode="embed" data-entity-embed-display="entity_reference_revisions:entity_reference_revisions_entity_view" data-entity-type="embedded_paragraphs" data-entity-uuid="7439045e-8677-4e68-a132-aad3294855e2" data-entity-embed-display-settings="[]" class="embedded-entity"> <div class="field field--name-paragraph field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--uswds-card-group-flag paragraph--view-mode--embed paragraph--id--1312"> <ul class="usa-card-group"> <li class="grid-col-12 usa-card usa-card--flag"> <div class="usa-card__container make-link"> <div class="usa-card__media"> <div class="usa-card__img"> <div class="field field--name-field-card-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="title usa-sr-only">Image</div> <div class="field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.usa.gov/s3/files/styles/large/public/2023-01/Banner_img_Death_of_a_loved_one_en.png?itok=FZEiu6JW" width="480" height="148" alt="Last will and testament form."> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="usa-card__body"> <p>Find more resources to help you settle your loved one's affairs.</p> </div> <header class="usa-card__header"> <h2 class="usa-card__heading"> <a href="/death-loved-one" class="text-no-underline card-link" title> Dealing with the death of a loved one </a> </h2> </header> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container settings-tray-editable block block-views block-views-blockwizard-step-test-block-1" id="block-views-block-wizard-step-test-block-1" data-drupal-settingstray="editable"> <div><div class="js-view-dom-id-abf8d0b778e4878be8b68ba66ed0bc8edb0f883557b81d2ee267f5c31a8eebde"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="additional_body_info"> <p id="last-updated">LAST UPDATED: September 30, 2024 </p> <div id="sm-share"> <span id="share-page">SHARE THIS PAGE:</span> <div class="share-icons"> <a aria-labelledby="share-page fb" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.usa.gov/social-security-report-a-death&v=3"> <div class="share-icon-div"> <img class="share-icon" id="fb" src="/themes/custom/usagov/images/social-media-icons/Facebook_Icon.svg" alt="Facebook"/> </div> </a> <a aria-labelledby="share-page twr" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=webclient&text=https://www.usa.gov/social-security-report-a-death"> <div class="share-icon-div"> <img class="share-icon" id="twr" src="/themes/custom/usagov/images/social-media-icons/X_Twitter_Icon.svg " alt="X Twitter USAGov"/> </div> </a> <a aria-labelledby="share-page em" href="mailto:?subject=https://www.usa.gov/social-security-report-a-death"> <div class="share-icon-div"> <img class="share-icon" id="em" src="/themes/custom/usagov/images/social-media-icons/Email_Icon.svg" alt="Email"/> </div> </a> </div> </div> <div class="border-top-05 border-base-lightest"></div> <div id="question-box"> <div class="border-left-1 padding-left-205 border-cyan-10 margin-top-8 margin-bottom-9 padding-bottom-2"> <h2 class="font-family-heading margin-top-0"> Have a question? </h2> <p>Ask a real person any government-related question for free. 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Report the death of a Social Security or Medicare beneficiary | USAGov