Social Security takes back payment after death - can family recover it for previous month's benefits?

Yes, that's how it works. SSA pulls back the payment from the month of death automatically. Since your uncle died in April, they took back the April payment (which was for March benefits). Your cousin needs to contact SSA about the "underpayment" to get that money back, since your uncle was alive for all of March. But there's something called the "month of death benefit" - in most cases, no benefit is payable for the actual month the person died (even if they died on the last day).

sorry about your uncle. yes the SSA takes it all back when someone dies even if they only died on the last day of the month!!! its CRAZY. my mom died last year and same thing happened to us. we had to go through a lot of paperwork to get the previous months payment. bring death certificate and go to SSA office in person

The benefit payment your uncle received in April would indeed be for March, as Social Security pays a month behind. When someone passes away, SSA's system automatically recoups the payment made in the month of death (April in your case). To request this payment, your cousin needs to file Form SSA-1724 (Claim for Amounts Due in the Case of a Deceased Beneficiary). There's an order of priority for who can claim this underpayment: 1. Surviving spouse who was living with the deceased 2. Surviving spouse who is eligible for benefits on the same record 3. Child/children eligible for benefits on the same record 4. Parent(s) eligible for benefits on the same record 5. Legal representative of the estate There's a 6-month window from date of death where SSA will more easily process these claims, but technically you can file for several years after death. I recommend not waiting.

I went through this when my father died in 2023. It's incredibly confusing and frustrating! SSA's computer system automatically pulls back the payment made in the month of death. Then you have to PROVE to them that the person was entitled to that payment (which they obviously were since it was for the previous month). If you don't file for it, YES, the SSA keeps the money!! They don't automatically reissue it - you MUST request it as an "underpayment" and there's endless paperwork. In my experience, the local office was useless - I couldn't even get through on the phone for weeks.

Former SSA claims specialist here. Let me clarify a few things: 1. Benefits are paid in the month following the month they're for (e.g., March benefits paid in April) 2. When someone dies, the system automatically recoups the payment made in the month of death 3. No payment is due FOR the month of death (regardless of what day they died) 4. The underpayment (payment for the month before death) can be claimed by qualified individuals If no one requests the underpayment, yes, SSA effectively keeps the funds. There's a form called SSA-1724 for claiming underpayments. The proper payee is determined by a specific order of priority (surviving spouse living with deceased, surviving spouse entitled on same record, child entitled on same record, etc.) If your uncle died April 3, his widow would be entitled to the March payment (which was recalled from his account in April). She should contact SSA with his death certificate and her ID to start the process. There's no strict time limit, but it's best to handle within 6 months of death.

BTW if your uncle was married make sure his wife applies for the $255 death benefit too!!! its not much but its something

Something else to consider - if your aunt was already receiving spousal benefits on your uncle's record, her benefit amount should increase to his full benefit amount as a widow. She should contact SSA about this too, as survivor benefits need to be applied for; they don't automatically convert. And if she's not yet at her full retirement age, there could be strategic filing considerations to maximize her long-term benefits.