When a family member dies, some of the deceased’s family members may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits if the deceased person worked long enough under Social Security to qualify for benefits. Usually, the funeral director will report the person’s death to the Social Security Administration, but you will need to give the deceased’s family member’s Social Security number to the funeral director so he or she can make the report. For more information, read the Social Security Administration’s publication, How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies, or call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. When a family member dies, contact the Social Security Administration as soon as you can to make sure the family gets all the benefits to which they are entitled.
