Social Security direct deposit received day my mother died - how to return payment to SSA?

I'm so sorry for your loss. Yes, you do need to return that payment. Social Security benefits are not payable for the month of death. You should report the death to Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 as soon as possible. They'll notify the bank and arrange for the return of the payment. Don't withdraw or spend that money. The bank will eventually receive instructions to return it to the Treasury.

So sorry about your mom! This happened when my grandpa died too. It was a NIGHTMARE getting through to SS on the phone!!! We called like 50 times and kept getting disconnected or on hold forever. Finally just went to the local office but had to wait 3 hours.

When my husband passed, I had a similar situation with his final SS payment. After trying to call SSA for days with no luck, I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent within 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU It saved me hours of frustration when I was already dealing with grief. The agent I spoke with walked me through the whole process and even sent me information about survivor benefits I qualified for.

My condolences. Remember to ask about the $255 death benefit payment when you call SSA. Its not much but it helps with expenses.

THE BANK WILL AUTOMATICALLY TAKE THAT MONEY BACK!! When my mom died last year her account got FROZEN as soon as we notified SSA and then they yanked back her payment without telling us!!! Be careful because if any checks or autopays hit after they do this, you'll get hit with returned payment fees!!!

did u have POA for your mom? my uncle died and they wouldnt even talk to my aunt cuz she wasnt on his account

So sorry for your loss. Make sure you ask about survivors benefits too if you're her spouse or if she had any dependent children or disabled adult children. My cousin's husband died and she had no idea she could get benefits for their kids until someone at the funeral mentioned it.

I'm very sorry about your mother's passing. Here's what you need to do: 1. Report the death to SSA at 1-800-772-1213 2. Provide her SSN, date of birth, and date of death 3. Do NOT return the funds directly to SSA yourself 4. The Treasury will issue a reclamation request to the bank 5. The bank will then return the funds Additionally, you should ask about the lump-sum death payment of $255 that may be payable to a surviving spouse or dependent child. Also inquire about survivor benefits for any eligible family members. One important note: If your mother received SSI (Supplemental Security Income) in addition to regular Social Security, different rules apply, and you should mention this specifically when you call.

when my dad died last yr we had to send death certificate to SS office but they let us fax it instead of mail

One additional thing to be aware of: if your mother had any Medicare premiums being deducted from her Social Security payment, you'll want to make sure those are properly stopped as well. When you call SSA, ask them to confirm that all automatic deductions related to her benefits have been terminated.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Jasmine. Losing a parent suddenly is devastating. I went through this exact situation when my father passed away unexpectedly two years ago. The emotional burden of handling these administrative tasks while grieving is overwhelming. A few practical tips that helped me: When you call SSA, have your mother's Social Security number, date of birth, and date of death ready. Also have the death certificate number if you have it (though you may not need the physical copy for the initial call). One thing I learned is that SSA will put a "flag" on her record immediately when you report the death, which should prevent any future payments. The Treasury reclamation process for the payment she already received typically takes 2-4 weeks. Also, if she had any direct deposits for other benefits (like pension payments), you'll need to contact those organizations separately. SSA only handles Social Security payments. Take care of yourself during this difficult time. The administrative stuff can wait a few days if you need time to process your grief first.

My deepest condolences to you and your family, Jasmine. I can't imagine how difficult this must be for you right now. I wanted to add one more piece of advice that might help: when you do call SSA, try calling first thing in the morning (around 8 AM) or later in the afternoon (after 3 PM) - those tend to be less busy times and you're more likely to get through quickly. Also, if you get disconnected, don't hang up and redial - stay on the line as it will often reconnect you to the next available agent. The system remembers your place in queue for a few minutes. Thinking of you during this heartbreaking time.

I'm so deeply sorry for your loss, Jasmine. Losing your mother so suddenly must be absolutely heartbreaking. I went through something very similar when my grandmother passed away last year - she had her Social Security deposited the same day she died, and I remember feeling so overwhelmed trying to figure out what to do while dealing with everything else. The advice everyone has given you is spot-on. The SSA number (1-800-772-1213) is definitely the right place to start, and they will handle the process of getting that payment returned to the Treasury. Don't worry about doing anything with the bank directly - SSA will coordinate with them. One small thing that helped me was writing down a list of questions before I called, because grief brain is real and it's easy to forget important things during the conversation. You might want to ask about the timeline for the reclamation, confirm they have your current contact information for any follow-up, and definitely ask about that $255 death benefit and any potential survivor benefits. Please be gentle with yourself during this process. There's no rush - take the time you need to grieve. You're handling everything as well as anyone could in this situation. Sending you and your family my thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.

I'm so very sorry for the loss of your mother, Jasmine. Sudden losses like this are especially shocking and my heart goes out to you and your family. I want to echo what others have said about calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213, but I also wanted to share something that might help with the waiting times. If you have access to a computer, you can also create a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov and report the death through their online system. Sometimes this can be faster than calling, especially during busy periods. You'll still likely need to follow up with a phone call, but it can get the initial report started. Also, when you do speak with SSA, ask them to send you a written confirmation that the death has been reported and that they've initiated the payment reclamation. Having this documentation can be helpful if any questions come up later with the bank or other agencies. Take care of yourself during this difficult time. You're doing everything right, even when it doesn't feel like it.

I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss, Jasmine. Losing your mother suddenly like this is unimaginable, and my heart truly goes out to you during this devastating time. I wanted to add one more resource that might help you navigate this process. Many local SSA offices also have grief counselors or social workers who specialize in helping families through these situations. When you call the main number, you can ask if they have someone specifically trained in bereavement services who could walk you through not just the payment return process, but also help you understand all the other SSA-related tasks you might need to handle. Also, if you have other family members who might be calling SSA about your mother's death (siblings, spouse, etc.), make sure to coordinate so that multiple people aren't reporting the same information - this can sometimes cause confusion in their system. One last thing - please don't feel like you have to handle all of this immediately. SSA understands that families need time to grieve, and while it's good to report the death promptly, they won't penalize you if it takes a few days to get everything sorted out. You're being so thoughtful and responsible during an incredibly difficult time. Your mother would be proud of how you're handling everything. Sending you strength and comfort.