How Do I Report a Death to Medicare or Social Security?
Key Takeaways
- In most cases, a funeral home will notify Social Security of a death.
- You can report a death to Social Security by phone at 1-800-772-1213 from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in most time zones.
- Social Security will automatically notify Medicare of the person’s death.
- If the beneficiary had Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Medicare Part D, you may need to contact those insurance companies separately.
Navigating logistics after a loved one passes away can feel overwhelming. Family members may be left taking care of the person’s household, belongings, and pets, while planning funeral arrangements, forwarding mail, and getting in touch with other family and friends. They also have to handle government and legal responsibilities, like obtaining an official declaration of death, getting copies of the death certificate, and locating the person’s will.
One of the first steps — and often one of the simplest — is notifying Social Security, Medicare, and any private insurance companies of the person’s death. This article explains how to report a death to Social Security, how to notify Medicare of death, how to apply for benefits, and what other entities need to be alerted.
How To Notify Social Security of a Death
Notify Social Security as soon as possible to avoid complications later on. When you alert Social Security, the person will stop receiving benefit payments, and they’ll be unenrolled from Medicare.
In most cases, the funeral home will notify Social Security of the person’s death, but you’ll need to provide their Social Security number. If you don’t have that information, you can request it through Social Security Form 711.
If you aren’t working with a funeral home or they don’t report the death, you’ll need to contact Social Security yourself. You can’t report a death to Social Security online or through email. Instead, you must call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778) from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in most time zones. You can choose English, Spanish, or stay on the line for an interpreter.
Before you call, gather the person’s information, including:
- Name
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
- Date of death
If the deceased receives a Social Security benefit payment in error, it’s best to return it right away. Otherwise, the agency will contact you for repayment down the line. Paper checks can be returned, while direct deposits must be returned by the financial institution, such as the deceased’s bank.
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Does Social Security Notify Medicare of a Death?
Yes, Social Security will report a death to Medicare. While these are two separate government programs, they do overlap a bit: Social Security handles Medicare eligibility and initial sign-up, and many beneficiaries have their premiums withheld from their Social Security benefits.
Once you or a funeral home have alerted Social Security, you won’t have to contact Medicare separately. The person will stop receiving Social Security benefits, and Medicare will stop withdrawing the monthly premium.
However, if Medicare withdraws a premium in error, you can request a refund. To do so, the person’s legal representative must complete Form SSA-1724 and submit it to the local Social Security office.
Reporting a Death to a Medicare Advantage, Medigap, or Medicare Part D Plan
If your loved one had another insurance plan, like Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, or Medigap, you might have to complete an additional step. Since private insurance companies sell these plans, they operate separately from Medicare and Social Security. While Medicare usually notifies the beneficiary’s other insurers of their death, it’s a good idea to contact those companies to confirm.
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Social Security Death Benefits
Surviving family members may qualify for a lump-sum or monthly benefit from Social Security. You can call Social Security at the same number (1-800-772-1213) to ask about your eligibility and apply.
Applying for the Social Security Lump Sum Death Benefit
Social Security will pay a one-time benefit of $225 to the deceased person’s spouse or, in some cases, their child. To qualify, the child must be 17 or younger, 18-19 years old and in school full time, or have a disability that they developed before turning 21. The family member must apply within two years of the death.
To prove eligibility, the relative may need to provide:
- Their birth certificate
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful residency
- Discharge papers if they served in the military before 1968
- W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns for the previous year
- A death certificate for the deceased individual
Applying for Survivor Benefits
If the deceased person worked and paid Social Security taxes, their spouse may be eligible to receive survivor benefits and Medicare coverage. If the surviving spouse waits until they reach full retirement age, they can receive 100% of the deceased spouse’s benefit.
In some cases, the deceased person’s ex-spouse, child, or dependent parent may be eligible for Social Security survivor benefits.
To apply, you may need to provide the following information:
- Your Social Security number
- Your place of birth
- Your work history for the past 5 years
- The deceased person’s birthdate and Social Security number
- Date of marriage or divorce
- Direct deposit details
- Names of any children who are age 17 or younger, 18 or 19 and in school (K-12) full time, or who developed a disability at age 21 or younger.
Call Social Security to set up an appointment to apply. Your appointment may be in person or over the phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for canceling Medicare?
It is the executor’s legal responsibility to cancel Medicare after a death. Some funeral homes may notify the Social Security Administration on the executor’s behalf.
When a Medicare beneficiary passes away, it’s important to cancel Medicare as soon as possible. Otherwise, Medicare may continue to bill the deceased for monthly premiums.
You will still need to contact other Medicare providers to cancel Medicare Advantage (Part C) or Part D plans.
When a person dies, do I need to return Social Security benefits?
If the deceased receives Social Security benefits, check the date on all payments received after their death. Benefits received for the month of death or any months after must be returned to Social Security. For example, if a person passes away in April, they are not eligible for benefits in April. The check that arrives in May is payment for April, so that check must be returned.
If the deceased received benefits by check, do not deposit any checks received after their death. If benefits are directly deposited to their bank, the full amount will need to be returned.
Can you report a death to Social Security online?
No, you cannot report a death to Social Security online or through email. You must report it in person or over the phone.
Putting It All Together
You must notify Social Security of a person’s death to stop their benefit payments and Medicare premium withdrawals. This also allows you to apply for a lump-sum or monthly benefit payment, depending on the person’s work history. Surviving spouses, ex-spouses, and dependents may qualify for Medicare coverage after a loved one’s death.
- Report the Death of a Social Security or Medicare Beneficiary. USA.gov.
- What to Do When Someone Dies. SSA.gov.
- Survivor Benefits. SSA.gov.
- Form SSA-8 | Information You Need To Apply For Lump Sum Death Benefit. SSA.gov.
- Form SSA-1724 | Claim For Amounts Due In The Case Of Deceased Beneficiary. SSA.gov.
- Social Security. USA.gov.