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Reviewed August 1, 2026 · Federal · Social Security Administration

Report a death to Social Security

A funeral home usually reports a death to SSA. If it does not, call Social Security promptly—especially when the person was receiving benefits.

Direct answer

Ask the funeral director whether the death was reported. Give the director the deceased person’s Social Security number. If no funeral home is involved or it did not report the death, call SSA and provide the person’s name, Social Security number, date of birth, and date of death.

Open SSA instructions

Who normally sends the report

SSA says funeral homes usually notify the agency, so a family member generally does not need to duplicate a confirmed report. Funeral directors may report through Electronic Death Registration or use Form SSA-721 when that system is unavailable. Form SSA-721 is for funeral directors, not a general family form.

When you should call SSA

Call if no funeral home is involved, if the funeral home did not make the report, or if you cannot confirm that it did. SSA specifically says to notify it as soon as possible when a person receiving benefits dies.

Information to prepare

  • The deceased person’s full name and Social Security number.
  • Their date of birth and date of death.
  • Information SSA requests to identify the record or establish proof of death.

Do not enter these personal identifiers on WhatDoIFile. Provide them only through the official SSA channel.

How to report it

Call Social Security at the number on its official contact page. If you live outside the United States, use SSA’s Federal Benefits Unit or international contact instructions. SSA does not list a general online family death-report form.

Benefits and payments require separate attention

Reporting the death is not an application for survivor benefits. A surviving spouse, divorced spouse, child, or dependent parent may need to contact SSA separately. SSA warns that some survivor claims depend on when the person applies. Also contact the financial institution about any payment issued for a period after death and follow SSA’s instructions; do not spend or move a payment you may have to return.

Keep a record

Write down when the funeral home or family reported the death, the official channel used, and any instructions SSA provided. Do not send original evidence unless SSA asks for it and explains the accepted method.

Official sources

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