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Oh gosh, my brother owed so much money when he died. Sickening. He never paid any bills. Crazy! He spent every cent he had.

Any store he went into he opened an account. Any check that came in the mail, he cashed. He would say they gave it to him. I said to him, no it is a loan and you have to pay it back. I kept telling him it was because of people like him that people like me who paid bills paid higher prices to make up for those who didn’t pay. Didn’t make one bit of difference to him. I know they didn’t get his money because I am sure he spent it!
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As others have said SS will want the money back. If payment was direct deposit they will electronically deduct it from the account automatically.

My mother died on the 30th in a month that had 31 days - tough luck on the odds. SS somehow found out my mother had passed as the money wasn’t even deposited. I was already familiar with their “live until the very last day of the month” policy having been through it when my dad died four years earlier - on the 24th day of the month.

I wasn’t attempting to keep it a secret that my mother had passed and had them on my list of “To Do’s” - but sheez - as the saying goes “she wasn’t even cold yet” and they had their notification letter out to me in a matter of days. I still wonder how they found out. Hospice? Nursing Home? Funeral place? Who knows.

Creepy, if you ask me.

p.s. If ACaringDaughter is referring to the death benefit SS pays - don’t hold your breath on it helping to pay the bills. It is actually only a few hundred dollars. I could be wrong here - but it seems to me that it is only paid if there is a surviving spouse. I remember applying for and getting it when my dad passed first - but did not get it when my mom died.
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worriedinCali Apr 2019
The funeral home notifies social security immediately. So it’s not really that creepy.
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Terribly sorry for for your loss.

Social Security pays one last (after death) payment. I recall that the amount is slightly larger than usual.

Do the right thing and contact the SSA immediately. They will receive electronic notice of the death anyway, regardless of whether you call them first.

Dont compromise you future by committing fraud.
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You call social security and report tne death. They will certainly take back any money they are owed if direct deposited or will ask you for it. This department of government is actual efficient as is Medicare. I recommend that you not spend the last check, until you find out.
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I don’t mean to be rude, but I think you mean I a third party entitled to keep it
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The Social Security Administration website states:
https://www.ssa.gov/planners/survivors/ifyou.html

If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, you must return the benefit received for the month of death and any later months.
For example, if the person died in July, you must return the benefits paid in August. How you return the benefits depends on how the deceased received benefits:
For funds received by direct deposit, contact the bank or other financial institution. Request that any funds received for the month of death or later be returned to Social Security.
Benefits received by check must be returned to Social Security as soon as possible. Do not cash any checks received for the month in which the person dies or later.

So your Father's April 3, 2019 SS benefits must be returned to the SSA.

The SSA should be notified as soon as possible when a person dies. In most cases, the funeral home will report the person’s death to us. You should give the funeral home the deceased person’s Social Security number if you want them to make the report.  However, you cannot report a death or apply for survivors benefits online.  If you need to report a death or apply for benefits, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You can speak to a Social Security representative between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also visit your local Social Security office.
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Check received in April is for March. They will take back from bank account if that is where it was deposited. Or they will write for repayment.
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No they will take the money back if it was a direct deposit. If it was not a direct deposit you will have to write a check if the check has been cashed. If the check has not been cashed I would imagine you could return it.
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No April check is not for May its for March. SS is like a job so your paid after you do the work.

SS is entitled to the April 3 check. They will take it back. So don't use it to pay anything. Sorry about Dad.
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No he won't . April check would be for May.

Im sorry for your loss
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No. He isn’t. Social security will claw back the payment.
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PandabearAUS Apr 2019
glad I read this. My father was receiving a part pension from GB of (wait for it) £31 per fortnight. I informed them immediately and he received one more payment. They now want it repaid. I live in Australia so possibly I was for previous month. Anyway, they are never getting a cent
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