Social Security reclaimed deceased mother's final payment - confused about SSA-1724-F4 form for underpayment claim

Yes, SSA-1724-F4 is the right form for underpayments to a deceased beneficiary. You don't need to write the amount - the SSA already knows exactly what they reclaimed. They'll determine the payment amount based on their records. Just complete all the personal info sections, your relationship to the deceased, and submit the documentation they request (usually death certificate and proof you're the executor). The February payment was for January, so they took it back since he wasn't alive for the full month of January. This is standard procedure.

sorry for your loss. my mom died last year and same thing happened. SS takes back the last payment automatically then you have to file for whats owed. its so frustrating when your dealing with grief!!

When my husband died they did the same thing. The form you have is correct but BE CAREFUL because they're very picky about how it's filled out. I had mine rejected twice! Make sure you include ALL requested documents. The underpayment should be prorated for the days your father was alive in January. IMPORTANT: There's also a one-time death benefit of $255 you can apply for if you're eligible (spouse or dependent child). That's a separate form - SSA-8.

I had to handle this exact situation last year with my grandmother. Here's what you need to know about the SSA-1724-F4: 1. As others mentioned, you don't list the reclaimed amount - SSA has that on record 2. Parts I and II are straightforward personal information 3. In Part III, you'll indicate your status as executor 4. Part IV requires documentation proving your status 5. Don't forget to sign and date Part V The payment they'll issue is prorated based on the days your father was alive in January - they calculate this as: (monthly benefit ÷ days in month) × days alive in month. Also, underpayment claims can take 45-60 days to process, so be prepared to wait.

Just adding to what others have said - if you're having trouble getting through to SSA to ask questions (which is really common these days), I recently discovered a service called Claimyr that got me through to a live agent in under 10 minutes when I was dealing with my mom's benefits. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU It saved me hours of redial frustration when I was trying to sort out a similar underpayment issue. Much easier than spending days trying to get through or waiting for a callback that never comes.

The form you received (SSA-1724-F4) is specifically for underpayments to deceased beneficiaries, so yes, it's the correct form. Social Security reclaims the final deposit because benefits are paid in arrears - the February 2nd payment covered January. As executor, you're filing for what's called a "partial month payment" for the days your father was alive in January. SSA calculates this internally based on their records - you don't need to specify the amount. If your father was married, his surviving spouse would typically be first in line for this payment. If not, it goes to children or the estate according to SSA's order of priority. Make sure you submit proof of your executor status with the form.

One other thing to be aware of - the SSA won't just automatically send the payment to the same bank account they reclaimed funds from. They'll either send a paper check to the address you provide on the form, or you can request direct deposit by providing your own bank information in Part II-B of the form. Also, don't forget to apply for the $255 lump-sum death benefit if you haven't already. As his child, you're eligible if there's no surviving spouse.

Yes, you can submit both forms together. The $255 death benefit application is form SSA-8, and it's fairly straightforward. Just be aware that you typically need to apply for this within two years of the death. One final tip - keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit, and if possible, submit the forms in person at your local SSA office and ask for a receipt. This creates a clear paper trail in case anything gets lost in processing (which happens more often than it should).

Thank you all so much for this helpful information! I feel much more confident about handling this now. I'll make sure to: 1. Complete the SSA-1724-F4 form (without worrying about listing the amount) 2. Include my executor documents and his death certificate 3. Apply for the $255 death benefit with form SSA-8 4. Keep copies of everything 5. Try to submit in person if possible It's frustrating that these processes aren't more clearly explained by SSA, especially during such a difficult time. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share your experiences and advice.