Once your parents die, their retirement/pension ceases. Father thinks that's unfair. He said that when he dies, that they should continue to pay it out to me - as his caregiver. I told him that it doesn't work that way. It's for husband/wife situation.
Important thing here is to remember to inform Social Security and any pension plans being paid out after death; otherwise you will have to pay them back. My father had direct deposit his pension and along with social security I had to inform them to stop putting money in that I'd have to pay back from his estate. There are some, few I'd say places that continue the benefits to the spouse, perhaps police and fire dept do and some large corps, but in any event once the living spouse dies they stop and do not go to the children, maybe some plans do, so it is important to check your paperwork now, not when you are bereft.
There's no maybe, Charles. Social Security benefits and Pension payouts cease when the benefactor dies. Hint: If the benfactor dies on a day in any given month where the S.S. payout has already been received, then, believe it or not, the S.S. Administration will take back the payment asap. My mother died on the last day in February, and her Social Security check had already been deposited into her checking account. By March 3rd, it was gone. I didn't even know that they knew she was deceased. They'll zap it out electronically. If you die on the last day of any month, they consider you dead for the whole month.
Not all pension payments cease when the benefactor dies. Social Security does unless a minor child is involved. Some pensions are written to include spouse for her life and minor children.
When you say that "your Mom collects your Dad's benefits" I hope you mean she is collecting her share as his spouse and not that they have been paying benefits to your father for the past 20 years that he has been dead. If this is the case, you will have a problem as they are going to want that money repaid to them.
When my father died we had to report his death to everyone, Social Security, His Union, banks etc. My mother was then set up to receive benefits under her name from his social security and his pension. When my Mom dies, everything stops, even though I am their disabled child and full time care giver. Benefits do not just go on forever they cease at the death of both spouses.
Be specific. As HolyCow stated: I hope you mean that she is collecting her share as his spouse, and not that they have been paying benefits to your father for the past twenty years since he has been dead. When two married persons receive individual S S checks, and one person dies, the S S Administration will usually give the greater check to the surviving spouse. No need to figure. I personally, would not let the funeral home contact the S S Administration. Trust no one, and check the date-of-death on the Death Certificate, signed by an Attending Physician.
If you die on the last day of any month, they consider you dead for the whole month.
When my father died we had to report his death to everyone, Social Security, His Union, banks etc. My mother was then set up to receive benefits under her name from his social security and his pension. When my Mom dies, everything stops, even though I am their disabled child and full time care giver. Benefits do not just go on forever they cease at the death of both spouses.
When two married persons receive individual S S checks, and one person dies, the S S Administration will usually give the greater check to the surviving spouse. No need to figure.
I personally, would not let the funeral home contact the S S Administration. Trust no one, and check the date-of-death on the Death Certificate, signed by an Attending Physician.
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