Social Security sends millions of payments to about 70 million Americans. It is very confusing for many beneficiaries to understand that even if you get a retirement or SSDI payment in December, that corresponds to the previous month, November.
Understanding this is fundamental if you want to avoid any confusion. As a matter of fact, the new COLA for 2024 starts in December. However, you do not receive your monthly benefits until January if you are on Social Security. The thing is SSA has set a rule for the payments of benefits after a death.
The key rule that Social Security has established is that a beneficiary can only receive the payment if he or she lived for the full calendar month. Therefore, spouses or children should not expect a retirement or SSDI benefit in the same month the person has died.
Can I make a complaint to Social Security regarding the amounts due after the passing of my spouse?
Social Security allows citizens to submit a form. This form is SSA-1724 and with it, you can claim for amounts due when a beneficiary passes away. Do not worry if you are not a spouse but a family member or legal representative. As a legal representative, you can also file this form.
The usual order to receive this Social Security payment is the following one. First, the surviving spouse. Of course, to cash it you must have lived in the same house.
Being on a monthly payment on the same record as the beneficiary who died may be another possibility.
Then, children may be eligible if they were entitled to checks every month on the same record as the parent who died.
Who could go next following the order SSA has set?
Parents, a surviving spouse not qualifying for the aforementioned things, children not qualifying, parents not qualifying, and then the legal representative.
Anyway, it is advisable to check if any of you can be eligible for survivor benefits. This could be a great possibility to receive more money every month.
Apart from that, Social Security pays a lump sum after the passing of your spouse or parent if you are a child. The amount of this lump sum is 255 dollars. Even if it is not much, you are entitled to it and have the right to receive it.
Report the death of your family member to Social Security as soon as possible. If not, you will have to face overpayments and may not have enough money to pay it back.