How can executor get parent's Social Security 1099 statement for taxes after death?

Yes, as the executor you can definitely get your mother's SSA-1099. You have a few options:1. Visit your local Social Security office in person with your executor documents and your ID. They can print it on the spot.2. Send a written request with proof of your executor status to your local SSA office.3. If your mother had a my Social Security account online, you might be able to access it with her credentials (though this isn't officially recommended).The SSA typically mails 1099s in January for the previous year's benefits, so you won't see one for 2024 benefits until January 2025. For a mid-year death, you'll need to request it specifically.

Thank you for this information! Do I need her death certificate when I go to the local office? And do you know if they'll give me a statement just for those 4 months, or do I have to wait until January?

when my dad died last year we had the same problem! i went to the SS office with the death certificate but they made me come back with the letters testamentary to prove i was executor it was a huge pain

This is why I HATE dealing with the SSA!! They make everything so complicated and act like they're doing us a favor when WE paid into the system our whole lives!!! My husband and I went through something similar when his father passed and they kept sending us to different departments. RIDICULOUS!

As the executor, you have a legal right to this information. Here's the proper procedure:1. Bring your Letters Testamentary or other court documents appointing you as executor2. Bring the death certificate3. Bring your own photo ID4. Request form SSA-1099 for the partial yearFor a death in April 2024, you'll need what's called a \

This is exactly what I needed to know! I'll gather these documents and head to our local office. Hopefully they can help me without another 3-hour wait...

The same thing happened when my aunt died in February. I tried calling and calling but never got through. When I finally went to the office, they said I should have come in sooner! So frustrating!

I've found a service called Claimyr that can help you get through to SSA without the ridiculous wait times. I was skeptical but it actually worked when I needed to contact them about my disability review. They basically wait on hold for you then call you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration. Check out their video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU or visit claimyr.com - it was absolutely worth it for me after spending days trying to get through on my own.

just so you know, the amount of SS income will also be on the payment stubs or direct deposit records if you have access to your moms bank account. you might not need to wait for the official form if you just need the numbers for planning purposes

That's a good point! I do have access to her accounts as executor. I'll check her statements to at least get a ballpark figure while I work on getting the official document. Thanks!

did ur mom have Medicare too? cuz that complicates things, they take Medicare premiums out of SS checks and you have to account for that on taxes

Yes, she did have Medicare. I hadn't even thought about the premium deductions. This is getting more complicated than I expected...

One additional note: if you're handling her final tax return, remember that Social Security benefits are only taxable if her combined income exceeds certain thresholds. For a single filer, if her combined income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of Social Security benefits) was between $25,000 and $34,000, up to 50% of benefits are taxable. Above $34,000, up to 85% may be taxable.Since she only received 4 months of benefits, this might not reach taxable levels depending on her other income. The worksheet in the 1040 instructions will walk you through this calculation.

That's really helpful information. Her income was fairly modest, so it's possible none of the SS benefits will be taxable. I'll definitely use that worksheet once I have all the numbers. Thank you!

The EXACT same thing happened to me last year and I ended up having to FILE AN EXTENSION because social security couldn't get me the form in time!!! Then they had the nerve to tell me I should have requested it sooner. HOW WOULD I KNOW THAT?? Nobody tells you these things until it's too late!

I know right? They expect us to be mind readers! My tax guy said this happens all the time and the IRS actually understands even if SSA doesn't.

I was in a similar situation and found that reaching a Social Security agent is almost impossible with their main line. Have you considered trying the service I mentioned earlier? Several people in my executor support group have used it to get through for estate matters. It saved me from taking a day off work to visit the office in person. Just another option if the office visit doesn't work out.

I'll keep that service in mind if I run into more roadblocks. Right now I'm planning to try the local office first with all my documents, but it's good to know there are options for getting through by phone if needed. Thanks!

One more tip - if you do go to the local SSA office, try to be there 30 minutes before they open. Most offices now have a

this is super important advice!! my local office starts lining up at like 7:30am even tho they dont open till 9. its crazy

Wow, I had no idea it was that bad. I'll definitely plan to get there early. Thanks for the heads up!

I'm sorry for your loss, Yara. I went through something very similar when my father passed away last year. The SSA phone system is absolutely brutal - I think I burned through 10+ hours on hold over several attempts before giving up. What finally worked for me was going to the local office with all the right paperwork. Bring your Letters Testamentary, death certificate, and your photo ID. The staff there were much more helpful than the phone system, and they printed out the SSA-1099 for the partial year on the spot. One thing I learned too late - if your mom had any other sources of income like pensions or retirement accounts, make sure to get those 1099s too. The estate tax situation can get complex quickly, and having everything organized from the start saves headaches later. Good luck with everything, and don't let the bureaucracy discourage you. You're doing the right thing by handling her affairs properly.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Yara. Dealing with estate matters while grieving is incredibly difficult, and the SSA's phone system makes it even worse. I went through this exact situation when my grandmother passed away two years ago. Here's what worked for me: I went to the local SSA office first thing in the morning (literally got there 45 minutes before opening) with my Letters Testamentary, her death certificate, and my ID. The representative was able to generate what they call a "corrected SSA-1099" for just the months she received benefits before passing. It shows the gross benefit amount and any Medicare premiums that were deducted. One thing that caught me off guard - they also provided a separate document showing the lump sum death benefit that was paid to my family, which is also reportable income for tax purposes. Make sure to ask about that too if it applies to your situation. The whole process took about 30 minutes once I got to speak with someone, versus the literal days I wasted trying to get through on the phone. Hang in there - you're almost through the worst of it!

I'm really sorry for your loss, Yara. Going through estate matters while grieving is so tough, and the SSA's phone system just adds insult to injury. I dealt with this same situation when my uncle passed away last year. One thing that might help while you're gathering documents for the office visit - check if your mom's bank has online access to her account statements. Even if you don't have her login credentials, as executor you can usually get access by visiting the bank branch with your Letters Testamentary. The direct deposit records will show exactly how much she received each month and what Medicare premiums were deducted, which can help you verify the numbers on the official SSA-1099 when you get it. Also, just a heads up - some local SSA offices have started doing appointments for estate matters rather than walk-ins. You might want to call ahead (I know, I know, more phone time) just to check if yours requires scheduling. It could save you from waiting in that early morning line only to be told you need to come back with an appointment. The whole process is unnecessarily complicated, but you're doing everything right. Your mom would be proud of how thoroughly you're handling her affairs.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Yara. Dealing with the SSA after a loved one passes is one of the most frustrating parts of settling an estate. I went through this exact same situation when my father died last summer. The 3+ hour phone wait is unfortunately typical - I gave up after 4 hours on two separate occasions! What finally worked was visiting the local SSA office in person. I brought my Letters Testamentary, his death certificate, and my driver's license. They were able to print out what's called a "partial year SSA-1099" that covered just the months he received benefits before passing. A few things I learned that might help you: 1. Get to the office 30-45 minutes before opening if possible - many offices now use a number system 2. Some offices require appointments for estate matters, so it's worth calling to check (painful as that is) 3. The SSA-1099 will show gross benefits AND Medicare premium deductions, which you'll need for the tax calculations 4. Don't forget to ask about any lump sum death benefit - that's also taxable income The whole process took about 20 minutes once I got to speak with someone. Hang in there - the in-person route is definitely your best bet for getting this resolved quickly.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Yara. I went through this exact same nightmare when my stepfather passed away in June. The SSA phone system is absolutely broken - I literally tried calling for two weeks straight and never got through to a human being. What finally saved my sanity was going to the local SSA office at 7:45 AM with all my paperwork. I brought the death certificate, my Letters of Administration (similar to Letters Testamentary), and my photo ID. The agent was actually very helpful and printed out his partial-year SSA-1099 immediately. She explained that for mid-year deaths, they have to generate what's called a "corrected" 1099 that only covers the months benefits were actually received. One thing nobody warned me about - if your mom had Medicare Part B premiums deducted from her Social Security, those deductions will show up on the 1099 too. Make sure to ask for a breakdown of gross benefits vs. net payments, because you'll need both figures for the tax return. The whole visit took maybe 45 minutes including the wait, versus literally weeks of failed phone attempts. Sometimes the old-fashioned way is the only way that works with government agencies. Good luck!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Yara. I went through this exact situation when my mother passed away last fall, and you're absolutely right - the SSA phone system is completely broken. I spent over 6 hours total on hold across multiple attempts and never reached a human being. What worked for me was visiting the local SSA office in person. I'd recommend calling first (I know, more phone pain) just to confirm whether they require appointments for estate matters - some offices have switched to appointment-only for executor services since COVID. When you do go, bring: - Your Letters Testamentary - Certified copy of the death certificate - Your photo ID - Any Social Security award letters or benefit statements you might have The agent was able to generate what they call a "partial year SSA-1099" on the spot, showing exactly what she received in benefits before passing and what Medicare premiums were deducted. If your mom received the $255 lump sum death benefit, that will be on a separate form and is also reportable income. One tip: arrive 30-45 minutes before opening. Most offices use a number system now, and estate matters can take a while to process. The whole thing took me about an hour once I got called, but it beat months of phone tag with their broken system. You're doing everything right in trying to handle her affairs properly. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Yara. This brings back memories of when my grandmother passed away three years ago - I had the exact same frustrating experience with SSA's phone system. After multiple failed attempts at calling (including one 5-hour marathon that ended with getting disconnected), I finally went to our local SSA office. Here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: call the local office directly (not the main 800 number) to ask if they require appointments for estate matters. Many offices changed their procedures after COVID. If they do take walk-ins, get there at least 45 minutes before they open - seriously. People start lining up early because estate matters can be time-consuming. When you go, bring your Letters Testamentary, certified death certificate, and your photo ID. They'll be able to print what's called a "partial year SSA-1099" that covers just the months your mother received benefits. Don't forget to ask about the $255 lump sum death benefit if you received one - that's also taxable income that many people overlook. The whole process took about 30 minutes once I got to speak with someone, versus literally days wasted on their phone system. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through these hoops during an already difficult time, but the in-person approach really is your best bet. You've got this!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Yara. I went through this exact same situation when my father passed away last year, and the SSA phone system is absolutely infuriating. I spent countless hours on hold with nothing to show for it. What finally worked was going to the local SSA office in person with all the proper documentation. Here's what I learned that might help you: 1. Call the local office directly (not the main 800 number) to ask if they require appointments for estate matters - many offices changed their procedures recently 2. If they take walk-ins, arrive at least 30-45 minutes before opening. Bring a book or something to do while you wait 3. Make sure you have your Letters Testamentary, certified death certificate, and your photo ID 4. They can generate a "partial year SSA-1099" on the spot that covers just the months your mother received benefits One thing that caught me off guard was learning about the $255 lump sum death benefit - if you received one, that's also reportable income for tax purposes. The staff at the local office was much more helpful than anything I experienced trying to call. The whole process took about 45 minutes once I got to speak with someone, which felt like a miracle after all those failed phone attempts. It's frustrating that we have to deal with this bureaucratic maze while grieving, but you're doing the right thing by handling her affairs properly. Hang in there - the in-person route really is your best bet for getting this resolved quickly.