How to apply for social security for a deceased parent

Ways to Apply

You can complete an application for Retirement, Spouse's, Medicare or Disability Benefits online.

If you cannot submit your application online:

• You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778); or
• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, visits to our offices are by appointment only for certain services. Please visit our Coronavirus page to see if you may be eligible for an in-person appointment.

If you live outside the U.S. you can contact the Federal Benefits Unit that provides service to your country of residence.

Retirement or Spouse's Benefits

You can apply online for Retirement or spouse's benefits or continue an application you already started.

You must be at least 61 years and 9 months old and want your benefits to start no more than four months in the future.

If you qualify for both retirement and spouse's benefits, please read:

If you are eligible for a spouse's benefit and your own retirement benefit

If you are almost 65, your application for benefits will include Medicare.

Information You May Need to Apply:

• Retirement Benefits
• Spouse's or Divorced Spouse's Benefits

Disability Benefits

You can apply online for disability benefits or continue an application you already started.

Information You May Need to Apply:

• Disability Benefits

Appeal a Disability Decision

If your application for disability benefits was denied recently for medical reasons, you can request an appeal online or continue working on an appeal you already started.

Medicare Benefits

You can apply online for Medicare or continue an application you already started.

If you are almost 65 but you don't want your retirement benefits to start, you can just apply online for Medicare using the "Retirement/Medicare Benefits" application.

Information You May Need to Apply:

• Medicare

Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Costs

You can apply online for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits

If you want to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), please read:

How Do I Apply For SSI?

Survivors Benefits

You cannot report a death or apply for survivors' benefits online.

If you need to report a death or apply for survivors' benefits, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You can speak to a Social Security representative between 7 AM and 7 PM Monday through Friday. You can also contact your local Social Security office.

In most cases, the funeral home will report the person's death to Social Security. If you want them to do that, you will need to give the deceased's Social Security Number to the funeral director so they can make the report.

If you are getting benefits on your spouse's or parent's record:

• We'll automatically change any monthly benefits to survivor benefits after the death is reported to us.
• We may be able to pay the Special Lump Sum Death Benefit automatically.

If you are getting retirement or disability benefits on your own record, you will need to apply for the survivor benefits. We will check to see whether you can get a higher benefit as a widow or widower.

If you are not getting benefits, you should apply for survivor benefits promptly because, in some cases, benefits may not be retroactive.

Information You May Need to Apply:

• Widows/Widowers or Surviving Divorced Spouse's Benefits
• Child's Benefits
• Mother's or Father's Benefits
• Lump-Sum Death Payment
• Parent's Benefits
  (You must have been dependent on your child at the time of his or her death.)

Children's Benefits

You cannot apply online for benefits for a child. Please read:

Information You Need to Apply for Child's Benefits

Check the Status of Your Application

After you apply, you can check the status of your application online. You will need your Social Security number and confirmation that you received when you applied to use this service.

You can apply for benefits by calling our national toll-free service at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or by visiting your local Social Security office. An appointment is not required, but if you call ahead and schedule one, it may reduce the time you spend waiting to apply.

You can help by being ready to:

• Provide any needed documents; and
• Answer the questions listed below.

Documents you may need to provide

We may ask you to provide documents to show that you are eligible, such as:

• A birth certificate or other proof of birth;
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you were not born in the United States [More Info];
• U.S. military discharge paper(s) if you had military service before 1968;
• W-2 forms(s) and/or self-employment tax returns for last year; and
• A death certificate for the deceased child.

Important

We accept photocopies of W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns, but we must see the original of most other documents, such as your birth certificate. We will return the documents to you.

Do not delay applying for benefits because you do not have all the documents. We will help you get them.

What we will ask you

• Your name and Social Security number;
• Your name at birth (if different);
• Your deceased child's name, gender, date of birth and Social Security number;
• Your date of birth and place of birth (State or foreign country);
• Your deceased child's date and place of death;
• Whether a public or religious record was made of your birth before age 5;
• Whether you were dependent on the worker for 1/2 of your support at the time of the worker's death or at the time the worker became disabled. (If “Yes” we will ask for proof.);
• Whether you have ever filed for Social Security benefits, Medicare or Supplemental Security Income on your behalf. (If so, we will also ask for information on whose Social Security record you applied);
• Whether the deceased worker ever filed for Social Security benefits, Medicare or Supplemental Security Income. (If so, we will ask for information on whose Social Security record he or she applied.);
• Depending on when the worker died, we may ask you whether he or she was unable to work because of a disabling condition. (If so, we will ask you for the date he or she became unable to work.);
• Whether you or the worker were ever in the active military service before 1968 or ever worked for the railroad industry. (If so, we will ask you for the dates of service and whether you or the worker ever received or expect to receive a pension from a military or Federal civilian agency.);
• Whether your spouse ever worked for the railroad industry;
• Whether you have earned Social Security credits under another country's Social Security system;
• Whether you have married since the worker's death. (Social Security uses this information to determine your eligibility for parents benefits.);
• The amount of the worker's earnings in the year of death and the preceding year;
• Whether the worker had earnings in each year since 1978;
• The amount of your earnings for this year, last year and next year; and
• If you are within 3 months of age 65, whether you want to enroll in Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance).

Depending on the information you provide, we may need to ask other questions.

Note

You also should have with you your checkbook or other papers that show your account number at a bank, credit union or other financial institution so you can sign up for Direct Deposit, and avoid worries about lost or stolen checks and mail delays.