Follow
Share

My mom passed away on July 2nd. Her SS check was automatically deposited on the 3rd. Evidently the funeral home notified SS that she passed away, which is customary for them to do. By the 8th SS tried to pull the check back out but since I had sent some of her bills off there wasn't enough money left in her account which left her account overdrawn. Also, since there wasn't enough in the account for SS to collect they froze her account!!! After spending hours at the bank, talking to different people at SS (in person and over the phone) I was directed to the US Treasury Dept. (who issues the checks). Now, SS told me that the check was definitly my mother's since she passed away in July,reguardless of how early in the month, as it's for the month of June. The rather unpleasant person at the Treasury Dept. said this is not true!!!! Can someone clear this up?

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.

59 Answers

Most
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
1 2
My mother died on 5/24/18 but still received a SSA check for the next month. My name is on the account. Will I be in serious trouble if I withdraw the funds for funeral expenses and repay it to SSA a little at a time?
Helpful Answer (49)
Report
Lonelyperson, the check your husband received on July 3rd was definitely for the month of June, so you are entitled to that check. You are not entitled to the check that was probably paid on August 3rd or so because that was for July, and your husband would have had to live all the way through July to be qualified to receive the July check. Apparently, they take the last check back to make sure that it gets paid to the correct survivor and heir. If they took back the check that your husband received on July 3rd, you need to fill out a form to request that money back.
Helpful Answer (6)
Report
My mother died on March 31 in the morning. And they took back the ss check. I was told she had to live the whole last day of the month to be entitled to the ss check. I guess that would mean 12 midnight .
Helpful Answer (5)
Report
I don't understand why my husband got his s.s on the 3rd of july and he died on the 30 july if that check was for the month of june, why did the pull it back, when he was alive. In june.
Helpful Answer (5)
Report
My mom died on January 30, 2017 and SS wants the check back for the month of January. My dad died on Feb. 2, 2017 and his February check is owed back as well. It has been a year and going on four months and I cannot transfer his portfolio to the beneficiaries because of this. I have been to SS two times and called about four times and it still isn't settled. I can't believe the law is the person has to live to the last second of the month in order for the SS benefit to remain. Social Security definitely wants the money back unless the person lives to the last second of the month. This I know for sure.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
So my mom died on March 20th of 2018...she gets her checks on the 3th of the month..on the 3th is April there was nothing deposit..so I should be good right..she was paid up in memory care center till the 30th..of March but died on 20th of March how does that work..
Helpful Answer (7)
Report
My father passed away on February 2, 2018, the funeral home notified SSI. I also went on that Wednesday with the death certificate to notify them for my mother's sake so she can receive his benefits as they were both in their 80's and fully retired. They stated she will receive a phone interview in April. The funeral director advised me she should get his February check as he lived past the first? But so far nothing.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
My dad died on Feb. 2, and I was told that SS can take the SS check back that was paid in March for the month of February. My mom died on Jan 30. They want her SS check back that they issued in February for the month of January. Does a person have to die on the last day of the month to be entitled for the SS benefits for that month? This makes no sense to me. So, if my mom lived one day more she would be entitled to her January benefits? Someone help me understand this.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report
My Dad passed on 4 May 2017 and he had received the check on the 3rd. My mother was allowed to keep his check. And then the following check she received in June was for the higher amount which my Dad had been receiving.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
I'm all for a class action suit because its not fair what there doing to us. We are already hurting from the passing of are love ones when we get hit with finance problems. I am about to have my electric shut off and my house payment. I had already paided most of my bills and ended up $890 overdrawn and several other bill returned as insufficient funds. This is what I get for taking care of mom for 10 years with Alzheimer's. She required 24/7 care and it just about bankrupt me. I get different stories from 8007221213 Ss and the local Ss office. They pay one month behind and and it fall in there time schedule. The local office had the nerve to say I should have saved ENOUGH money for such emergencies. Is there any body out there has more money than they need that's on Ss. REALLY
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
My mother past on January 1 at 7:30 and on February 3 she had her check deposited into bank account. I am power of attorney executive of the estate and her caretaker of her checks. They came in myself and moms name in a joint account. On February 9 SS withdrew her December check bringing her and my account a negative -$980 and the bills I paid as insufficient funds. I contacted SS 800 number and they told me she's owed December check and to get ahold of local SS office. When I did they told me it would be 60. - 90 days to get check they sent me once. Also they said I would have to contact all family members so they could get a cut of the money. I'v been her caretaker for 10 years and handled all her affairs. But now she has passed they are telling me how to handle what I been doing for 10 years. The local Newark Ohio office was the most rude and cruel person I have ever talked to. It's bad enough to lose your mom but to be put in a situation where you can't keep the lights on or mortgage paid and it seems like nobody cares especially local SS offices. Any body out there no the answer. Please help
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
It is for this exact reason that wife and I have separate accounts. Separate money. It may not stop them from removing money from my account but it will certainly slow them down and make them work for the money they retrieve.
we also have separate savings account. Which has helped with the guardianship issue of protecting her savings from anyone wishing to remove funds,including me.
I can put money into her savings but I can only request it be with drawn in the form of cashiers check payable to someone billing her for services or supplies not covered by insurance.
My experience with direct deposits is it allows the depositor to withdraw whatever amount they may have deposited, at any time.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
If one is receiving Supplemental Social Security(SSI), the check is to be returned as those recipients are paid current month. If one is receiving Social Secirity-Disability or Retirement, the recipient is paid one month deferred(i.e: July check is paid in August) In the 2nd situation, the money is not returned but in the 1st situation the money is returned...simply 1st situation, paid current and 2nd situation, paid one month delayed. Therefore whichever the person is receiving be aware...SSI- Current, return...SSD OR SSR- Delayed, keep.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Tyoung, has your son died and you are asking this question? Are your circumstances different from this topic? 
This thread is discussing SS benefits when the SS recipient dies and how Treasury pays the last check to the person/family. 
I am assuming your son is on SSDI and just began receiving checks from SS? Or is he terminally ill?
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
So I received my son 1st check on the 31st of July and the letter stated he would receive another one on or around the 3rd of August, but today is the 3rd and he didn't receive it.... What should I do?
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
I agree with a class action lawsuit against them because they are taking money back that is rightfully the deceased entitlement!! My mother passed 4/9/17 and her check was deposited on 4/11/17 which was for March now they have her account froze because her auto pays she had set up had already came out so therefore they feel all their which by all rights is her money is not all there so now who knows what is going to happen but something really needs to be done about this problem!!!!
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
Benefits are not payable for the month of death. That means if the person died any time in July, for example, the check received in August (which is payment for July) must be returned.

If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, you must return the benefit received for the month of death or any later months. For example, if the person dies in July, you must return the benefit paid in August. If received by direct deposit, contact the bank or other f inancial institution and ask them to return any funds received for the month of death or later. If paid by check, do not cash any checks received for the month the person dies or later. Return the checks to Social Security as soon as possible. However, eligible family members may be able to receive death benefits for the month the beneficiary died.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
My mom passed on December 9th,I called SS to report it and they told me the money that went in on December 3rd was ours to keep since she died after the 3rd,if a deposit goes in on January 3rd,the bank will kick it back to SS. Your mom died on the 2nd,so you cant keep her benefits for that month.
Helpful Answer (7)
Report
Auntie: SS pays a month behind. They do not pay one penny for the month the person passes away. (Mom passed on March 30, and was not entitled to receive any payment for that month) If your loved one passed (for example) in Feb - the payment received in Feb is for January. You should not receive a check in March (for Feb) If you did, talk to the bank (if you have direct deposit) about returning it for you electronically. I had the same issue. SS did not send a request to the bank to return the March payment (of course they blamed the bank for not sending it back) After a couple of months I ended up asking the bank to send it. But you should call SS to make sure they have it on record that you owe them!
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
How long do they have to take the money out? It's been 5 months since our loved one passed away and they still haven't taken the money out!!
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
irutland21

Thank you. I did not know this.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
You are entitled to the check you get in the month they die because it is for the prior month. The check that is for the actual month the died, would arrive in the next month and you are not entitled to that one. So, if someone died July 1st, the check the get in July is for them as it was for June but they will not get the July payment which comes in Aug. Now, given that, they will take it back as they did for my mother-in-law and you have to fill out form ss-1724 to prove you are the person who should receive the deceased last check. We sent it in with my mother-in-law's death certificate an the birth certificates of her two sons. We are still waiting - have been told it can take up to 4-6 months for them to verify and send that final check back out to the rightful heirs.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
My husband father passed on the 11th of the month but when the next month came in he did not receive him June check can someone tell me what is going on or is they title to his June check.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
My post was confusing after I read it again. It depends on when in the month the person dies, but SS takes the money for the month anyway. Mom passed away on June 1, and they removed her direct deposit money for June. Then, later in the month, the money was replaced, with a letter saying it was because her death was so early in the month. Yes, AmyGrace, we can agree that it is confusing. The safest thing to do is to notify SS of the death, do NOT use that month's money, and realize that it will be taken by SS...and it might or might not be returned to the family. One thing we can agree on is that they can withdraw and deposit money in our bank accounts!
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
Lets all agree - Social Security is messed up. The rules are 1) checks are paid a month in arrears 2) they don't pay for the month the person dies. However, from comments here - Social Security is all over the board - sometimes taking the previous month's payment also, sometimes paying for the month the person passed. I returned the check for March (paid out April 1) but not the check that came in March 2 (because that is supposed to be for February and she passed March 30) But I'm leaving money in the bank for the next year, just because they are so unpredictable!
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
my wife died in dec. ss took her nov. check back ,why?
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
I can answer this one, because it happened to my mom's account. Mom died on June 1, so her SS check had already been deposited in her checking account. I immediately notified SS of her death, so they withdrew the check. Then, after a couple of weeks, the money appeared in the account, with a letter saying that, because she passed away that early in the money, the money went to the family. The problem the original poster had was that the money was spent while the check was in the process of being taken back because of the death and returned because of the time of the month. So, there was a time when the money was not physically in the bank. That's when I found out that SS can take money out of one's checking or savings account!

The reason I immediately reported my mom's death, even though I knew her check would probably be reimbursed to the family is that a friend of hers "forgot" to report her mother's death to SS and kept on spending the money. When it was discovered, the lady almost had to go to federal prison! She ended up having to repay the money and doing a certain number of community service. Lesson learned! Don't assume anything with the government unless you hear it yourself and see it in writing!
Helpful Answer (6)
Report
Condolences on the passing of your father. SS should not take back the May 3 check because it is payment for the previous month of April.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
My father in law passed on May 12. His ss check was deposited on May 3. Will SS take it back? And if so how long should I keep the account open so they can take it back?
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Please people research before you give people advice. Yes SS can take a check back but only for the month they pass. My dad passed May 13th, we keep the check deposited May 3rd but the June 3rd payment must be returned since SS pays one month behind, i.e June check is for May, May check is for April, April check is for March, etc.!!
Helpful Answer (3)
Report
1 2
This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.

Recent Questions


Popular Questions


Related Questions

Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter