Social Security after a death: reporting it, the $255 payment, and survivor benefits.

Funeral homes generally report deaths to Social Security, so most families don’t need to. Give the funeral director the person’s Social Security number so they can report it.

If no funeral home is involved, or it doesn’t report the death, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Have the person’s name, Social Security number, date of birth and date of death. If the person died outside the U.S., contact a Federal Benefits Unit or call +1-855-522-6936; if they were a U.S. citizen, also tell the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

If the person had Medicare, Medicare’s own instructions are to report the death by calling Social Security at the same number. For everyone else to notify, see who to notify.

Social Security does not pay benefits for the month a person dies. Because each payment arrives the month after it is earned, this catches many families by surprise: if the person died in July, the payment that arrives in August is for July and must be returned.

• Direct deposit: tell the bank about the death as soon as you can, so it can return any payments made after death. Social Security can take back an incorrect payment from the account.
• Paper check:don’t cash it. Send it back to Social Security.
• SSI:SSI payments sent after the month of death aren’t due either, and the bank returns them.

Eligible family members may be able to receive survivor benefits for the month the person died, so returning this payment doesn’t mean the family loses that month entirely.

Social Security pays a one-time $255 on the record of a person who worked long enough to be insured. The amount has been capped at $255 since 1954. It is paid in this order:

1. A spouse who was living in the same household as the person who died.
2. Otherwise, a spouseeligible for survivor benefits on the person’s record (including a mother’s or father’s benefit).
3. Otherwise, eligible children, in equal shares: 17 or younger, 18 or 19 and in school (K–12) full time, or any age with a disability that began before 22.

A divorced spouse can’t receive it. Apply within 2 yearsof the death. A spouse who was entitled to spouse’s benefits on that record in the month before the death doesn’t need to apply separately.

A widow or widower can receive a monthly benefit based on the deceased’s record. At survivor full retirement ageit is 100% of the deceased’s basic benefit. It can start as early as 60 (or 50 with a disability), at a reduced rate:

If the deceased had claimed their own benefit early, the survivor benefit is limited to the larger of what the deceased would be receiving if alive or 82.5% of their basic benefit. An unmarried widow or widower of any age who is caring for the deceased’s child under 16 (or a disabled child) can receive 75%.

Who qualifies

• Married at least 9 months before the death. Exceptions include an accidental death, a death in the line of duty in the uniformed services, an earlier marriage to the same person that lasted 9 months, and having or adopting a child together.
• Not remarried before 60 (50 with a disability) — or, if you did, that marriage has ended. Remarrying at or after those ages doesn’t stop survivor benefits, and at 62 you can switch to benefits on the new spouse’s record if they are higher.

Survivor benefits and your own retirement benefit

The two are not added together: you receive the higher. But you can take one first and switch later. Social Security gives the example of starting survivor benefits and switching to your own retirement benefit at 70, when it is at its highest. If you already receive your own benefit, you still have to apply for the survivor benefit to get the higher combined amount.

Survivor full retirement age

It isn’t always the same as retirement full retirement age. For survivors born January 2, 1945 through January 1, 1957 it is 66; it rises two months a year for those born January 2, 1957 through January 1, 1962, and it is 67 for those born January 2, 1962 or later.

• A divorced spousequalifies if the marriage lasted at least 10 years before the divorce. The age and length-of-marriage rules don’t apply when the divorced spouse is caring for the deceased’s child under 16 or a disabled child.
• Childrenwho are unmarried and under 18 (19 if still in elementary or secondary school full time), or disabled before 22, receive 75% of the deceased’s basic benefit.
• Parentsaged 62 or older who received at least half their support from the person who died, and haven’t married since, can receive 82.5% (one parent) or 75% each (two parents). Proof of support is due within 2 years of the death.

A family’s total is capped at 150% to 180% of the deceased’s benefit; payments to an ex-spouse don’t count toward that cap. In January 2026 the average benefit for a widow or widower aged 60 or older with no children receiving benefits was $1,919 a month, and for a widowed mother with two children, $3,898.

Survivor benefits can’t be applied for online. Call 1-800-772-1213 or visit a local office, and say which benefits you are applying for, including the $255 payment. Have these ready (originals, or copies certified by the office that issued them):

• Proof of death, from the funeral home or a death certificate
• Your Social Security number and the deceased’s
• Your birth certificate
• Your marriage certificate, or divorce papers if you are applying as a divorced spouse
• Children’s Social Security numbers and birth certificates
• The deceased’s most recent W-2s or self-employment tax return
• Your bank name and account number

A certified copy of the death certificate is useful here and in many other places; see how many to order.

• Cost-of-living increase: 2.8%, starting with the payments made in January 2026.
• Working while receiving benefits: below full retirement age, $1 is withheld for every $2 earned above $24,480 in 2026. In the year you reach full retirement age, $1 for every $3 above $65,160, counting only the months before you reach it. From that month on, there is no limit.
• Government pensions: since the Social Security Fairness Act, enacted January 5, 2025, the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset no longer apply to benefits payable for January 2024 and later. Survivors with a pension from work not covered by Social Security may now be eligible for more. Back pay for new applications is generally limited to six months before the month you apply.

The tax side of the year of death is covered in taxes after a death.