Will Social Security send me a 1099 for my deceased husband's January payment?

Oh no, I didn't realize I might need to return it! Thank you for explaining about the 1099. So if I do have to return the payment, will they still send a 1099 or would that be canceled?

I had the opposite experience when my husband died. The SSA rep was really kind and helpful. Maybe depends which office you deal with?

good advice but good luck actually getting through to anyone at SS. i spent 3 days trying to call them last month and kept getting disconnected or on hold forever

I had the same problem reaching SSA by phone when my mom passed. After wasting days on hold, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - definitely worth it for urgent situations like survivor benefits where you need to talk to someone quickly.

Thanks for sharing your friend's experience. I'll definitely call SSA to find out if I need to return it. Didn't even think about that possibility until now.

Is this different for SSI? My neighbor got to keep her husband's last SSI payment even though he died mid-month. So confusing!

Yes, SSI (Supplemental Security Income) has different rules than retirement benefits. With SSI, a recipient who dies after the 1st of the month can be eligible for that month's payment. With retirement benefits (OASDI), no payment is due if the person dies anytime during the month. It is confusing!

I'm glad you got some answers! Just a quick note on survivor benefits - if you were the higher earner, you might want to consider taking your own retirement early and then switching to survivor benefits at your full retirement age (or vice versa if your husband was the higher earner). The rules are complicated but this strategy can sometimes maximize what you receive over your lifetime.

MAKE SURE you get a receipt when you return that payment!!! I returned my wife's payment and 6 months later they claimed they never received it and took it out of my benefits!! Keep ALL documentation!

So sorry for your loss, Dallas. I'm glad you were able to get through to SSA and get some clarity on everything. That's a huge relief about not having to worry about the 1099 for the returned payment. The survivor benefits decision is definitely complex - you might want to consider meeting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security planning to help you figure out the best timing strategy. Many offer free consultations for widows/widowers. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Dallas. It sounds like you're handling a really difficult situation with grace. Just wanted to add that when you're ready to think about the survivor benefits timing decision, there are some good online calculators that can help you compare different claiming strategies. The AARP website has one, and there's also OpenSocialSecurity.com that's free and pretty comprehensive. No rush on that decision though - focus on getting through the immediate paperwork first. Wishing you strength during this tough time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Dallas. You've gotten some really solid advice here. Just wanted to add one more thing - when you do return that payment, ask SSA for written confirmation that it was received and processed. Some people have had success requesting this via certified mail if doing a check, or getting a confirmation number if doing it electronically. Also, since you mentioned being 62, you might want to look into whether you qualify for any widow's benefits from your husband's work record versus your own - sometimes one can be significantly higher than the other. The SSA representative should have explained this, but it's worth double-checking. Take things one step at a time during this difficult period.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Dallas. It sounds like you're navigating this really well despite how overwhelming it all must be. Since you mentioned you're 62, I just wanted to add that you have some time to decide on the survivor benefits - you don't have to rush into taking reduced benefits right away if you don't need the income immediately. The decision can be changed later in some cases, but it's worth understanding all your options first. Also, when you return that January payment, consider doing it via certified mail or getting a tracking number so you have proof it was sent. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

My deepest condolences, Dallas. I'm glad you were able to get through to SSA and get some clarity on the situation. Regarding the survivor benefits timing decision - since you're 62, you might want to know that if you take survivor benefits now at a reduced rate, you could potentially switch to your own retirement benefits later if yours would be higher at your full retirement age (or vice versa). This is called a "restricted application" strategy. Also, definitely keep detailed records of returning that January payment - scan/photocopy everything before you send it back. You're handling a really difficult situation with such strength. Take it one step at a time.

This is such helpful advice, Kelsey. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain these complex rules during what is already such a difficult time. The idea about modeling different scenarios with calculators makes a lot of sense - I hadn't thought about the possibility of switching between survivor benefits and my own retirement benefits later. That could make a real difference over the long term. I'm definitely going to send that payment back with tracking and keep copies of everything. Thank you all for being so supportive and informative. It means more than you know to have this community to turn to when everything feels so overwhelming.