When does the social security check stop: month after death or month of the death?

I found out at the funeral home, even though my sweetheart died the last week of July, his July check has to be sent back. How gutless is our government. Don't they know that every penny helps right now? I cannot believe it.

SS will contact u if they feel you got a check in error requesting it back. I was told the check received is for the prior month. The funeral home will contact SS

The month of. My mom passed on April 28, 2010. Her Her check received first week in May which was for April had to be returned.

There is a lot of things about the way government works that are not fair, we just have to live with them.

Arnie, it does seem unfair, but that is the way SS does it. They do it the same way when you first become eligible for benefits. If your birthday is on April 3, and you start benefits as soon as you are eligible at age 62, your first check is for May (the first month in which you are eligible for the entire month) and it is received in June. Since checks are now distributed on the Wednesdays of the month depending on when your birthday falls during the month, most people will not get their first check until two months after they turn 62.

If a benefit dies at or near the end of a month, why is the entire benefit payment for that month refundable? Why isn't the benefit prorated? This policy strikes me as unfair.

Short answer is NO.
The check you got in May is for the month of April therefore it was his. If he died The last day of May the check that arrives in June would have to be return. If he died the 1st of the month in June the check That comes in June is for May and his to keep as he was alive the whole month of May.

Recognizing a marriage is not just limited to a marriage license or ceremony in a church. Other evidences can be used to establish a common law marriage in states the recognize common law marriage. Now civil unions and marriages of same sex couples will also be considered. So, if a state the couple lives in does not recognize the same sex marriage that was legal in the state in which the couple married, SSA and VA benefits were denied. That has all changed with the recent Supreme Court rulings overriding state laws. Same sex unions/marriages CAN be recognized now for spousal/survivor benefits. It will be a great game changer for many seniors.

Remember, Social Security benefits are always paid a month BEHIND. Julys benefit will actually be paid in August. However, if a person is also receiving SSI, the SSI portion may still be payable for the month the person died. If they lived any part of July, they were entitled for July's SSI payment, which would be issued the first of each month . Any payment from SSI for August, then, would have to be returned.

The month of death even if its the last day of the month the ss dept will take check back. I know it sounds crazy but its true. So you are right dont close the accoint until you know for sure ss has taken payment back.

The check for the same month of death must be returned even if mbr died on the last day of the month.

Also, you must be a legally wed spouse orminor dependent child. No other benefits will be forthcoming.

The check for the same month of death must be returned even if mbr died on the last day of the month.

My mother died on Apr 30 four years ago. We went through this. Painful lesson.

It is rather strange that you have to live a full month before the SSA considers you to have lived at all that month. Someone can die on July 31 and it is the same as if they had died on July 1. You can keep the July check, but not the one in August if it is drafted at all.

GSA, you and I were posting at the same time. I'm glad we said the same thing.

No, you can keep July but not Aug. If SS has been notified of the death, then a check will not be drafted in Aug.

No. I am So sorry oregongirl. He died before the end of July. In fact example given by social security says that person who dies in July cannot keep August payment.
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10008.pdf

So, I can keep August check when it comes? He passed away yesterday. Boy they don't miss a beat do they.

I did some research on the SSA website, and it states that the check received is for the previous month; i.e., the July check is for the month of June. So as long as he was still alive in June, he was entitled to it.You can verify this on www.ssa.gov.

Guestshoppe - isn't the $ 255 only for children IF the child was a total dependent on the recently deceased. Like they would themselves need to be handicapped or other profound disability to qualify for the $ 255. Bet that is a teeny tiny group.

You know I think it's been parked at $ 255 like for a couple of decades…….

As an aside, my late mom's bank account was POD to me, & I've been able to just keep it open exactly how it read before she died (both names on it). Didn't need to close it and open an "Estate of" account (& higher service charges). I'll keep it this way till all estate issues are resolved. It does need some sort of activity of any $ amount every 6 mos, or goes to the dead account banking system for TX.

Please also note that the $255 death benefit is payable to spouse - not to registered domestic partner. So oregongirl, you will probably not be eligible for this money from Social Security. They may pay it to his child/children if they apply (only 1 payment available of $255). Check with Social Security when you report his passing to see if this has changed.

Good advice, igloo. I read elsewhere to never close an account that is receiving SS or federal payments for at least 45 days after death. After reading what you wrote, I understand the why.

JessieBelle answers are spot-on!
I'd like to add that SS will do a clawback of the overpaid month from whatever account it was direct- deposited into. For my mom, SS did their clawback within a few days but federal retirement took 30 days. If the funds are not there, they will keep attempting and the account building NSF fees. If you are doing probate and you are the named executor as per the will and this happens, it could allow for your being named executor to be disallowed. Not good.

From the Social Security website: If a beneficiary dies: Let us know if a person receiving Social Security benefits dies. We can’t pay benefits for the month of death. That
means if the person died in July, the check received in August (which is payment for July) must be returned. If the payment is by direct deposit, notify the financial institution as soon as possible so it can return any payments received after death.

My father died on Mar 2, 2012. The estate kept the check he received for March that was deposited a day after his death. He did not receive a check the next month.

My moyher received het social security check on the 4th of May. She died om the 10th of May. She did not receive a check Jun 4th. Social Security ckecks are recieved for the previous months. The June check would have been for the month of May. Socoal Security checks stop in the month in which they die whether. It does not matyer which day of the monrth. Went through with this last year when my mother died.

Here's a bit more from the online Caregiver's Library.


No benefits are payable the month that a beneficiary dies. This means that the Social Security check received the month after an individual has died should be returned to the Social Security Administration. Methods for returning the check differ depending on whether the check is direct deposited or arrives in the mail. If Social Security checks are being direct deposited, notify the bank as soon as possible. If the check arrives in the mail, take it to a local Social Security office to have the receiver’s name changed.

Generally, the name will be changed to that of a close family member—such as a spouse or unmarried child. Family members often are eligible for survivor benefits when a retired worker dies. Additionally, spouses receive a one-time payment of $255 if they lived with the deceased at the time of death, or if they were receiving Social Security benefits based on the earning records of the deceased. In cases where there is no spouse, children who are eligible for benefits based on the deceased’s work record may collect the one-time payment.

This will help. People here on AC give different answers whenever this question is asked.
socialsecurityinsider/2012/02/can-you-keep-the-social-security-check-for-the-months-someone-dies/

I was told that as long as the person was still alive when the check was received, then you are entitled to it.