Social Security survivor benefits: How long can we request my deceased father's uncashed SS check be reissued?

You generally have up to 12 months to request reissuance of an uncashed Social Security check to the estate. You'll need to complete Form SF-1055 (Claims Against the Check) and submit it along with the original check (if you have it) and documentation showing you're the executor. Your best bet is to schedule an appointment at your local SSA office - good luck getting through on the phone these days.

when my mom died last year we found 2 uncashed checks in her dresser drawer. we took them to the local ssa office with the death cert and they helped us fill out the forms right there. they were pretty nice about it actually. better than the phone!

You're dealing with what's called "underpayment" in SSA terms. When a beneficiary dies with an uncashed check, the funds typically go to the surviving spouse first if there is one. If no spouse, then to children. The 12-month timeframe another commenter mentioned isn't quite accurate - there's no specific time limit for underpayment claims, but it's best to handle it promptly. You'll need to complete form SSA-1724 (Claim for Amounts Due in the Case of a Deceased Beneficiary). Bring: - The original check - Death certificate (copy is usually fine) - Your ID - Documentation showing you're the executor Source: I worked for SSA for 22 years before retiring.

I just went through this exact same situation when my uncle died!!!! Getting through to SS is IMPOSSIBLE these days. I tried for THREE WEEKS calling every day and could never get a human. So frustrating!!!! I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a SS agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. It got me an appointment at my local office where I took care of the check issue. Saved me so much time and headache.

Something nobody mentioned - if your dad's check was for $1,875, that seems unusually high for a monthly SS retirement benefit. The max benefit at full retirement age in 2024 is around $3,822, but that's only for people who earned the maximum taxable amount for 35+ years. The average retirement benefit is closer to $1,900. If that check was for $1,875, you might want to verify it wasn't for multiple months or included some back pay. Just something to consider when you talk to SSA.

back when my grandma died the funeral home took care of all this stuff for us maybe ask them?????

The WHOLE SYSTEM is designed to make it difficult for families to get what they're owed!!! My father passed in 2021 and I'm STILL fighting with SSA about his final payment. They kept saying they needed more documentation, then they lost what I sent, then they said I waited too long. It's a NIGHTMARE. Don't let them give you the runaround. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and get the names of anyone you talk to!!!

Just to follow up on my earlier comment - something else to be aware of: if your father was receiving Social Security benefits, they technically aren't payable for the month of death. So if he passed away in May, the check received in June (which pays for May) would need to be returned. However, if the check you found is from before that, then it's considered an underpayment and can be reissued to eligible survivors. Also, as executor, make sure you're aware of the lump-sum death payment of $255 that may be available to eligible surviving spouses or dependent children. It's not much, but every bit helps with final expenses.

did anyone else notice they raised that death benefit to $325 starting in 2025? read it somewhere last week

I'm going through something similar right now with my grandmother's estate. One thing I learned is that you should also check if your father had any direct deposit set up that might have been automatically returned to SSA when the bank account was closed after his death. Sometimes families don't realize there were additional payments that got sent back automatically. When you go to the SSA office, ask them to do a complete review of any payments made after the date you reported his death - there might be more than just that one paper check you found. Also, bring multiple copies of everything because they sometimes want to keep copies for their files.

I went through this exact situation with my mother's estate last year. A few things that might help: First, definitely go with the SSA-1724 form that AstroAce mentioned - they're spot on about that being the correct form for underpayments. Second, when you go to the SSA office, try to get there early in the morning (like right when they open) - the wait times are usually much shorter. Third, make sure you have your letters of testamentary or whatever court documents show you're the executor, because some offices are stricter about this than others. The whole process took me about 3 weeks from start to finish once I got the appointment, and they were actually pretty helpful once I got to speak with someone in person. The phone system is absolutely useless, but the in-person staff generally know what they're doing. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with my late mother's estate. One additional thing to consider - if your father had any automatic bill payments coming out of his Social Security, those companies might have tried to process payments after his death and received returned payment notices. I discovered this when going through my mom's mail and found several "payment returned" notices from her utility companies. It's worth checking his mail for a few months after you resolve the uncashed check issue, just to make sure there aren't any other financial loose ends. Also, some banks will hold returned direct deposits for a certain period before sending them back to SSA, so there might be a delay in when those show up in their system. The SSA office should be able to tell you about any returned payments when you go in for your appointment.