Confused about SSA-1724-F4 form for survivor benefits - contradicting instructions about deceased spouse

just skip 2-5! if u lived with him thats all that matters for that question

Actually, this is a common point of confusion on the SSA-1724-F4. The two questions are evaluating different eligibility paths, and you need to answer both independently. For the household question - Yes, you lived together, so initially it tells you to skip 2-5. For the benefit entitlement question - Since you weren't receiving benefits on his record at the time of death (you had your own higher benefit), you would select "No" and technically proceed to item 2. However, the household question takes precedence in the form's logic flow. Since you answered Yes to living in the same household, you should skip items 2-5 regardless of your answer to the benefit entitlement question. The form is designed to establish eligibility through multiple possible paths, and living in the same household at time of death is the most direct qualification path for undisbursed benefits.

I went through this EXACT form last year when my wife passed away. The instructions are terribly written! I remember calling SSA like 5 times and getting different answers each time. Ultimately what worked was skipping 2-5 since we lived together. But make sure you've applied for the survivor benefits separately - that's a different process from this form which is just for any undisbursed benefits from the month of death.

To provide some clarity on the SSA-1724-F4 form: when you lived in the same household as the deceased at the time of death, you automatically qualify as the proper payee for any undispursed benefits under the POMS GN 02301.030 guidelines. That's why the form instructs you to skip items 2-5, as those questions are only needed to establish priority of claim when the surviving spouse wasn't living with the deceased. For your situation, you should: 1. Answer "Yes" to living in the same household 2. Skip items 2-5 as instructed 3. Complete the remainder of the form Your own benefit amount being higher than your spousal benefit isn't relevant to this particular form, which is strictly for claiming any payments that were due to your husband but not paid before his death.

The system is set up to make it as confusing as possible IMO!! My neighbor had this same issue and ended up hiring a lawyer just to get the measly last check which was only like $1500. So ridiculous!

Have you tried calling SSA directly? I know their hold times are crazy, but for something specific like this form question, you really need someone who can look at your exact case details. When I called about my late father's benefits last year, I waited over 2 hours just to speak with someone.

dont stress about the form too much!! when my dad died the SSA lady helped my mom fill everything out at the office. have u tried just going in person?

I want to add one more important note: make sure you're aware that as a widow, you have options regarding when to claim survivor benefits. Since your own benefit is higher right now, you might want to delay claiming survivor benefits until they would be worth more than your current benefit (potentially at your husband's FRA amount plus any delayed retirement credits). The undisbursed benefits form (SSA-1724-F4) is separate from this decision, but many people don't realize they have strategic options with survivor benefits even when their own benefit is currently higher.

I really hate how none of the SSA forms are available to fill out online. It's 2025 and we're still dealing with paper forms and contradictory instructions!!! The whole system needs to be modernized.

I completely agree with the advice to skip items 2-5 since you lived with your husband at the time of death. I'm a retired SSA employee and can confirm that the household residency question takes precedence over the benefit entitlement question on this form. The confusion arises because the form tries to cover multiple scenarios, but for widows/widowers who lived with the deceased, it's straightforward - you automatically qualify as the proper payee. Just make sure to attach a copy of the death certificate and any other required documentation. The processing time is typically 4-6 weeks once they have all the paperwork.

As someone who recently went through this exact situation, I can confirm what others have said - skip items 2-5 since you lived with your husband at the time of death. I was in a similar position where my own Social Security was higher than what I would have received as a spouse, but that doesn't affect this particular form. The SSA-1724-F4 is specifically for claiming any undisbursed benefits your husband was owed, not for your ongoing survivor benefits (which is a separate process you've already started). The form's wording is confusing because it's trying to cover multiple scenarios, but the household residency rule is the clearest path for your situation. Good luck with the process!

I'm sorry for your loss and understand how frustrating these forms can be during an already difficult time. Based on what everyone has shared here, it sounds like you have a clear path forward - skip items 2-5 since you lived with your husband at the time of death. I went through something similar with my mother's benefits last year, and the key thing I learned is that SSA forms often have confusing language because they're trying to cover every possible scenario, but your situation (living together at time of death) is actually one of the more straightforward cases. The household residency automatically qualifies you as the proper payee for any undisbursed benefits. Just make sure you have all the supporting documents ready when you submit it. Wishing you the best with this process.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ethan. I went through this exact same situation with my late husband's benefits about 18 months ago, and I remember being just as confused by those contradictory instructions on the SSA-1724-F4 form. Everyone here has given you excellent advice - definitely skip items 2-5 since you were living together at the time of his passing. That's the key qualification that overrides everything else on this particular form. The benefit entitlement question is really meant for more complex situations where spouses weren't living together. One thing I'd add from my experience: make sure you keep copies of everything you submit, and consider sending it certified mail so you have proof of delivery. The processing took about 2 months in my case, but having that paper trail helped when I had to follow up. Also, don't be surprised if they request additional documentation - they asked me for an additional copy of the death certificate even though I had already provided one. The amount you'll receive is typically just the prorated portion of his monthly benefit for the month he passed away, minus any benefits already paid for that month. It's not a huge amount, but every bit helps during such a difficult time. Hang in there!

I'm sorry for your loss, Ethan. I went through a very similar situation when my father passed away two years ago. The SSA-1724-F4 form is definitely confusing with those seemingly contradictory instructions, but everyone here has given you solid advice. Since you were living with your husband at the time of his death, you should skip items 2-5 as instructed. The form's logic prioritizes the household residency requirement over the benefit entitlement question. Think of it this way - the household question establishes your automatic right to claim undisbursed benefits, while items 2-5 are only needed when that automatic qualification doesn't apply. One additional tip from my experience: when you submit the form, include a brief cover letter explaining your situation clearly (living together at time of death, completing the form per household residency instructions). This helped avoid any confusion on the SSA's end and may have contributed to my claim being processed without additional requests for clarification. The whole process took about 6-8 weeks for me, and while it's not a large amount, it does provide some closure knowing you've taken care of all the administrative details. Wishing you strength during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ethan. Having just gone through this process myself when my mother passed away six months ago, I can absolutely relate to the confusion with the SSA-1724-F4 form's wording. Everyone here has given you excellent guidance - definitely skip items 2-5 since you were living with your husband at the time of his death. That household residency qualification is the most straightforward path and takes precedence over the other questions on the form. From my recent experience, I'd suggest a couple of additional things: First, if you haven't already, gather all your documentation (death certificate, marriage certificate, etc.) and make multiple copies before submitting. Second, consider hand-delivering the form to your local SSA office if possible, as they can review it on the spot and let you know if anything is missing. The processing time for me was about 10 weeks, which seemed to be pretty typical based on what others were experiencing at that time. The amount wasn't substantial, but it felt important to complete this final administrative step. You're handling a lot right now, and it's completely understandable to feel overwhelmed by these confusing forms. This community has been incredibly helpful to you, and you're definitely on the right track with skipping those items. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ethan. I went through this exact same situation when my wife passed away last year, and I remember staring at that SSA-1724-F4 form for hours trying to make sense of those contradictory instructions. Everyone here has given you spot-on advice - since you were living with your husband at the time of his death, you should definitely skip items 2-5. The household residency question is the key qualifier that overrides the benefit entitlement question. The form is trying to cover multiple scenarios, but your situation (living together) is actually the most straightforward path. One thing I learned that might help: when I called SSA to clarify this exact question, the representative explained that the form's logic flow prioritizes living arrangements over benefit status because spouses living together automatically have the legal right to claim undisbursed benefits under federal regulations. My processing time was about 8 weeks, and while the amount wasn't huge (just the prorated benefit for her final month), it felt important to complete this last administrative step. Make sure you send everything certified mail and keep copies - that saved me when they initially said they never received my death certificate. You're doing great navigating all of this during such a difficult time. The community support here is amazing, and you're definitely on the right track.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ethan. I went through this exact same situation with my husband's SSA-1724-F4 form about eight months ago, and I remember feeling just as confused by those contradictory instructions. Everyone here has given you excellent advice - definitely skip items 2-5 since you were living with your husband at the time of his death. The household residency qualification is what matters most on this form and takes precedence over the benefit entitlement question. What helped me understand it better was thinking of it this way: the form has two different pathways to establish your right to claim undisbursed benefits. Living together at the time of death is the primary, most straightforward pathway that automatically qualifies you. Items 2-5 are only needed when that primary qualification doesn't exist. One practical tip from my experience: I included a brief note with my form submission stating "Skipping items 2-5 per form instructions due to household residency at time of death." This seemed to help avoid any processing delays or requests for clarification. My processing time ended up being about 9 weeks, and while the amount was modest (just his prorated benefit for that final month), it felt important to handle this last administrative detail properly. You're doing everything right, and this supportive community has clearly given you solid guidance. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ethan. I'm currently dealing with a very similar situation with my late father's benefits, and I completely understand the confusion with the SSA-1724-F4 form's contradictory instructions. Everyone here has given you excellent advice that aligns with what I've learned through my own research and calls to SSA. Since you were living with your husband at the time of his death, you should definitely skip items 2-5. The household residency question establishes your automatic qualification as the proper payee for undisbursed benefits, which takes precedence over the benefit entitlement question. I found it helpful to think of the form this way: it's designed to cover multiple scenarios, but living together at the time of death is the clearest and most direct qualification path. The other questions (items 2-5) are only needed when that primary qualification doesn't apply. One thing I'd add based on my ongoing experience: make sure you have multiple certified copies of the death certificate ready. I thought one would be enough, but SSA has requested additional copies during the process. Also, keeping detailed records of when you submit everything will be helpful if you need to follow up. You're handling so much right now, and it's completely understandable to feel overwhelmed by these confusing government forms. This community has clearly provided you with solid guidance, and you're definitely on the right track.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ethan. I went through this exact same situation with my late spouse about 14 months ago, and I remember being just as frustrated by those seemingly contradictory instructions on the SSA-1724-F4. Everyone here has given you perfect advice - definitely skip items 2-5 since you were living with your husband at the time of his death. The household residency qualification is the primary pathway that automatically establishes your right to claim any undisbursed benefits, regardless of your benefit status at the time of death. What helped me understand the form's logic was realizing that it's trying to accommodate different scenarios: married couples living together (your situation), separated spouses, divorced spouses who might still be entitled to benefits, etc. Your situation is actually the most straightforward case the form handles. One tip that really helped me: I created a simple checklist of all required documents before submitting (death certificate, marriage certificate, completed form, etc.) and sent everything via certified mail with return receipt requested. The whole process took about 7 weeks for me, and while the amount wasn't substantial, it felt important to complete this final administrative step properly. You're navigating so much during an incredibly difficult time, and this community has clearly provided you with solid, consistent guidance. Trust the advice you've received here - you're absolutely on the right track.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ethan. I can completely understand your frustration with the SSA-1724-F4 form - those instructions are genuinely confusing and seem to contradict each other at first glance. Based on your situation and what others have shared here, you should definitely skip items 2-5 since you were living with your husband at the time of his death. The household residency qualification is the key factor that takes precedence on this form. I went through a similar situation with my mother's benefits last year, and what helped me understand it was thinking of the form as having different "tracks" for different situations. Since you lived together, you automatically qualify for the undisbursed benefits under the primary track, which makes items 2-5 unnecessary. One thing I'd add that might help: when I submitted my form, I included a brief cover letter explaining that I was skipping items 2-5 per the household residency instructions. This seemed to help avoid any processing delays. The amount you receive will likely just be the prorated portion of his monthly benefit for the month he passed away. It's not huge, but it's rightfully yours and provides some closure on the administrative side of things. You're handling a lot right now, and this community has given you excellent guidance. Trust their advice - you're definitely on the right track.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ethan. I went through this exact same form confusion when my husband passed away about a year ago, and I remember feeling just as frustrated by those seemingly contradictory instructions. Everyone here has given you absolutely correct advice - you should skip items 2-5 since you were living with your husband at the time of his death. The household residency question establishes your automatic right to claim any undisbursed benefits, which takes precedence over everything else on this form. What really helped me understand it was when an SSA representative explained that the form is designed to handle multiple different scenarios (separated spouses, divorced spouses, etc.), but living together at the time of death is actually the most straightforward qualification path. A few practical tips from my experience: definitely send everything certified mail with return receipt requested, include a brief note explaining you're skipping items 2-5 due to household residency, and have extra certified copies of the death certificate ready since they sometimes request additional documentation. My processing time was about 8 weeks, and while the amount was just his prorated benefit for that final month, it felt important to complete this last administrative step. You're doing everything right, and this community has given you excellent guidance. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ethan. I can completely relate to your confusion with the SSA-1724-F4 form - those instructions really are poorly written and seem to contradict each other. Based on everything you've described and the excellent advice from others here, you should definitely skip items 2-5 since you were living with your husband at the time of his death. The household residency qualification automatically establishes your right to claim any undisbursed benefits, regardless of whether you were receiving benefits on his record at the time. I went through a very similar situation when my late wife passed away about 10 months ago. What helped me understand the form's logic was realizing it's trying to cover many different scenarios - separated couples, divorced spouses, etc. - but your situation (living together) is actually the clearest and most direct path. A few things that helped me: I included a brief note with my submission stating "Skipping items 2-5 per household residency instructions," sent everything certified mail, and had multiple copies of all documents ready. The processing took about 9 weeks in my case. You're handling so much right now, and this community has given you spot-on guidance. Trust their advice - you're absolutely on the right track. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.