Social Security payment timing for deceased relative - October vs November payment confusion

Social Security benefits are paid in the month they're due but cover the previous month. So the payment she received on October 23rd was for September. Since she passed in November, she would be entitled to the October payment (which would normally arrive on November 27th). However, no benefits are payable for the month of death - so November benefits won't be paid. The funeral home will notify SSA of her passing, but you should follow up to make sure the October payment is properly processed.

sorry for your loss. when my uncle died last year they paid his last ss check but then took it back a month later!!! You might want to not spend that money right away cuz SSA might decide they want it back for some reason they never explained to us.

Let me clarify how this works with exact details: 1. SS benefits are paid in arrears (for the previous month) 2. The October 23rd payment was for September benefits 3. The November 27th payment (if it comes) would be for October 4. Since she was alive for all of October, that payment is due to her estate 5. No payment will be made for November (the month of death) The most important thing is to make sure SSA knows about her passing. Don't assume the funeral home notification went through. I'd recommend calling SSA directly to confirm everything is processed correctly so you get that final October payment.

If you need to reach SSA quickly, I had great luck using Claimyr (claimyr.com). After struggling to get through for WEEKS about my dad's survivor benefits, I found their service and they got me connected to an actual SSA agent in about 15 minutes instead of hours on hold. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - totally worth it when dealing with time-sensitive issues like death reporting and final payments. My situation got resolved in one call after that.

My experience with my mother's passing last year was frustrating!!!! I got SO many different answers from SSA people. First they said we'd get her final check, then they said no, then they sent it anyway and took it back 3 weeks later!!! Make SURE you understand which month is which because it's confusing when they pay for the previous month. Also be careful about spending any money that comes in after death because they might decide it was an error and demand it back.

One more important point: as executor, you should also check if she was eligible for the one-time death benefit of $255. It's not much, but it helps with funeral expenses. It's typically paid to a surviving spouse, or if there's no spouse, to eligible children. You'd need to file form SSA-8 to claim it if there's an eligible person. As for that final payment, yes - she is entitled to October's payment (paid in November) since she was alive all of October.

I used to work for a bank that handled lots of SSA direct deposits. Here's what you need to know: Once the death is reported to SSA, they'll review the account and determine what final payments are due. If your aunt was due the October payment (paid in November), they'll issue it. But be aware that sometimes SSA places a hold on the account temporarily while they sort everything out. This is normal. Also, if any payments come in AFTER the month of death, don't spend them - those will likely be reclaimed.

my mom got her payment at a different time than your aunt cuz she was born on the 8th so she got hers on the second wednesday. its so confusing why they do it different for different birthdates!!

I'm sorry for your loss. Based on what others have explained here, it sounds like you have a good understanding now - you should expect one final payment for October (arriving in November), but definitely follow up directly with SSA to confirm the death has been properly reported. One thing I'd add is to keep detailed records of all communications with SSA, including dates, times, and names of representatives you speak with. This can be really helpful if there are any discrepancies later. Also, consider opening a separate account for any final payments so you can easily track and return money if SSA determines something was paid in error. The estate settlement process is stressful enough without having to worry about surprise clawbacks months later.

I'm sorry for your loss, Liam. The information others have shared is correct - your aunt should be entitled to one final payment for October (which would come in November). As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add that you might also want to contact her bank directly to let them know about her passing. Sometimes banks have their own procedures for handling accounts of deceased customers, and they can help coordinate with SSA if there are any payment issues. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you have proper documentation (death certificate, letters of administration, etc.) ready when you call SSA - they'll likely ask for these to verify your authority to handle her affairs. The whole process can feel overwhelming, but it sounds like you're being very thorough and responsible as her executor.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Liam. As someone new to this community, I've been reading through all the helpful responses here and wanted to add one more perspective. I went through something similar with my grandfather last year, and one thing that really helped was creating a simple timeline document with all the key dates - his last payment date, date of death, expected final payment date, etc. This made it much easier when I had to explain the situation to different SSA representatives (and trust me, you'll probably talk to several). Also, if you're dealing with other government benefits like Medicare, VA benefits, or state programs, each one has different rules about final payments and death reporting, so don't assume they all work the same way as Social Security. The advice here about that final October payment being legitimate is spot on - just be prepared that the processing might take a bit longer than usual since death cases require manual review. Hang in there, and don't hesitate to ask more questions as they come up.

I'm sorry for your loss, Liam. As a newcomer here, I've been following this thread and want to emphasize something important that others have touched on - make sure to get written confirmation from SSA about the death reporting and final payment status. When I helped settle my father's estate two years ago, I learned that funeral homes sometimes delay or forget to report deaths to SSA, despite saying they'll handle it. I'd suggest calling SSA within the next week to verify they've received the death notification and to get a clear statement about what final payments are due. Ask them to send you a letter confirming the details - this documentation was invaluable when I had to explain the situation to banks and other institutions. Also, based on the birth date you mentioned (19th), the November 27th payment for October should definitely be legitimate if it comes through, but having that written confirmation from SSA will give you peace of mind and protect you if any issues arise later.

I'm sorry for your loss, Liam. As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add something that might help with the timing aspect of your situation. Since your aunt passed on November 3rd and her regular payment date was the fourth Wednesday, you're right to expect that November 27th payment for October benefits. However, I'd recommend calling SSA as soon as possible because there can sometimes be delays in processing final payments when a death occurs close to the regular payment date. The system needs time to verify the death report and ensure the payment is legitimate before releasing it. Also, when you do call, ask specifically about their "final payment verification process" - this will help ensure the October payment gets processed correctly and isn't accidentally flagged as an overpayment later. The advice others have given about keeping detailed records and not spending any payments beyond October is absolutely crucial. The SSA representatives should be able to give you a clear timeline for when to expect that final payment once they confirm everything in their system.

I'm sorry for your loss, Liam. As someone new to this community, I wanted to add a practical tip that helped me when I dealt with my grandmother's Social Security situation last year. When you call SSA, write down the confirmation number they give you for your call, along with the representative's name or ID number. This became really important later when I had to reference our conversation about her final payment. Also, I'd suggest asking them to place a "memo" on her account noting that you're the executor handling her affairs - this can help streamline future calls if you need to follow up. The advice everyone has given about that October payment being legitimate is correct, but don't be surprised if there's a brief delay while they manually review everything. In my experience, final payments sometimes take 2-3 weeks longer than the regular schedule because they go through additional verification steps. The most important thing is getting that direct confirmation from SSA that they've processed the death notification and understanding exactly what payments are still due to the estate.