Social Security check after death - will SS reclaim October payment and still send November benefit?

I'm sorry for your loss. Unfortunately, Social Security benefits are not payable for the month of death, regardless of what day in the month the person dies. So no, there won't be a November payment on the 23rd. As for October's payment, that should remain since she was alive for all of October - they won't take that back. You should report her death to SSA as soon as possible though, as continuing to receive benefits after death can create problems.

sry about ur mom. when my grandpa died last year they took back his last check! it was a whole mess and they even charged the bank an overdraft fee which was SO not fair. make sure u tell the bank what happened!

What the first responder said is correct. Social Security benefits are paid in arrears - meaning the payment received on October 23rd was for September, and the payment she would have received on November 23rd would have been for October. Since she was alive all of October, that payment (which would arrive Nov 23) is still payable to her estate. There will be no payment for November since she passed during that month. You need to contact SSA immediately to report her death. This isn't something you should wait on. If they deposit money they shouldn't have, they will take it back and that can cause problems with your account.

When my dad died we got NOTHING for his month of death even though he died on the 29th! Social Security doesn't pay partial months, it's ridiculous that they can keep a whole month's worth when someone dies at the end!!!!

To clarify for everyone - Social Security benefits are paid in the month FOLLOWING the month for which they are due. So: - Payment received on October 23rd was for September - Payment that would come on November 23rd would be for October - Payment that would come on December 23rd would be for November Since the person was alive all of October, the payment for October (which arrives in November) should still be paid. But since she died in November, there will be no payment for November (which would normally arrive in December). This is why it's critical to report the death promptly - to prevent incorrect payments that will later be reclaimed.

I've tried calling the SSA death reporting line over 50 times when my aunt passed away last month! Keep getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally had to take a day off work and go to the office in person. The system is broken!

Yes, most funeral homes will report the death to Social Security as part of their services. However, you should still follow up with SSA directly to ensure everything is handled correctly with her benefits. The funeral home reporting just starts the process, but doesn't take care of all the details regarding her benefits and final payments. To summarize what others have said correctly: 1. The payment received October 23rd was for September 2. The payment that would come November 23rd is for October (she should get this) 3. There will be no payment for November since she wasn't alive the entire month Also, be prepared that if you're handling her estate, you may be eligible for a one-time death benefit of $255 if you were her spouse or dependent child, but this has to be applied for separately.

hey dont 4get to ask about the death benefit! i think its like $255 or something. not much but its something!

I'm so sorry for your loss. This is such a difficult time and dealing with bureaucracy on top of grief is exhausting. Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble getting through to SSA by phone, you can also report the death online through your mother's my Social Security account if she had one set up, or you can visit your local SSA office. Sometimes going in person, even without an appointment, can be faster than waiting on hold for hours. Also, make sure to keep records of when you reported the death in case there are any issues later. The community here has given you great advice - the November payment for October should still come through since she was alive all of October. Hang in there.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Khalid. Losing a parent is never easy, and dealing with Social Security on top of everything else can feel overwhelming. From what I understand about SSA rules, you should still receive the November 23rd payment since it's actually for October when your mother was alive the entire month. However, there won't be any payment for November itself since she passed away during that month. I'd strongly recommend calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213 as soon as possible to report her death - don't wait for that appointment. The sooner you report it, the less likely there will be complications with incorrect payments later. If you can't get through by phone (which seems to be a common problem), consider going to the local office in person. Some offices will help walk-ins for death reports even without appointments since it's time-sensitive. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Having gone through this with my father last year, I can tell you that the community here has given you accurate information. You should indeed receive the November 23rd payment since it covers October when your mother was alive the entire month. Social Security pays in arrears, so that November deposit is actually her October benefit. However, there will be no payment for November since she passed during that month. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have multiple copies of the death certificate ready - you'll need them for various agencies and institutions. Also, if your mother had any automatic bill payments coming out of that joint account, you might want to review those since the Social Security payments will stop after the October benefit. The SSA phone system is definitely frustrating, but keep trying or go in person if possible. They really do need to know about her passing as soon as possible. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Khalid. Going through this process while grieving is incredibly difficult. Based on my experience helping a family member navigate this same situation, I can confirm what others have said - you should receive the November 23rd payment since it's actually for October when your mother was alive the entire month. Social Security benefits are paid a month behind, so that payment is rightfully hers. However, I'd recommend acting quickly to report her death. When I dealt with this, I found that calling the SSA number (1-800-772-1213) very early in the morning (around 8 AM) gave me the best chance of getting through. If that doesn't work, definitely try going to your local office as a walk-in - many offices will prioritize death reports even without appointments since they're time-sensitive. Also, make sure to inform your bank about the situation so they're aware that Social Security payments will be stopping after this final October benefit. This can help prevent any confusion if SSA accidentally deposits funds that need to be returned later. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Khalid. Losing a parent is heartbreaking, and having to navigate government bureaucracy during grief makes it even harder. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like you should receive the November 23rd payment since Social Security pays a month behind - so that deposit would actually be for October when your mother was alive the entire month. One thing I'd suggest is trying to call SSA at different times of day if the morning doesn't work. I've heard that sometimes calling right after lunch (around 1-2 PM) when call volume might be lower can help. Also, if you do go to the SSA office in person, bring a copy of the death certificate if you have it, or at least the funeral home information - it can speed up the process. Please take care of yourself during this difficult time. This community has given you great guidance, and it's clear people here understand how overwhelming this process can be.