Who reports the death
Give the funeral director his Social Security number. Funeral homes usually report a death, so ask yours whether it has been done.
If it hasn’t, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Have his Social Security number, his date of birth and the date he died in front of you.
You can ask them to confirm, on the same call, that the death is already on his record.
The payment for the month he died
His benefit is not paid for the month he died. A payment for that month, or for any month after it, has to go back.
If it arrived by direct deposit, ask the bank to return it. If a paper check comes, don’t cash it.
This surprises people, and it is not a mistake or a penalty. You may still be able to get survivor benefits for that same month, which is a separate question to put to Social Security.
Reporting the death is not applying for benefits
They are two different things, and the first does not start the second.
Reporting the death takes his name off the payment roll. Any survivor benefit on his record has to be applied for, and what you would get depends on his work record, your age when you start, and your own benefit. That choice is worth taking slowly, and the questions to bring are in What happens with Social Security?
There is also a one-time $255 payment that can go to a surviving spouse who lived with him, or who lived apart but qualifies for benefits on his record. It has to be applied for within two years of his death.
What to have ready when you call
- His Social Security number, his date of birth, and the date he died.
- Your own Social Security number.
- A certified copy of the death certificate, in case it is asked for.
- Something to write on. Ask for the name of the person you spoke to, and write down the date.
On how many certified copies to order, and who else asks for one, see How many death certificates do I need?
What can wait
- Choosing when to start a survivor benefit. Ask for the figures first.
- Any decision about his accounts, the house, or his things.
- Anything a caller pushes you to decide today. You can hang up and call the number above yourself.
What genuinely has to happen in the first week is in What has to happen this week?
What can be set aside is in What can wait, and for how long?
Where this comes from
This is an independent guide from the publisher of The Widow’s Guide. It is not a government site and is not connected to the Social Security Administration. Checked October 2026 against ssa.gov. Rules change, so check anything you rely on with Social Security itself.
The free checklist for the first two weeks lists this with everything else that has to happen, in order. No sign-up.