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Maggie01 Asked December 2013

My Mom collects my Dad's benefits (he passed 20 yrs). What happens to it when she passes?

In other words, does it automatically stop, or can a family member claim it. Mom was not working when dad passed.

ejbunicorn Dec 2013
the mothers daughter was asking what happens to her dads benefits after her mother dies, they stop, i am sure the mother collecting the benefits is collecting them as the spouse

ejbunicorn Dec 2013
my mother still collects my fathers benefits just like all wives do, please don't act like this women is stupid, it is not like she is a kid, she knows what she is saying

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N1K2R3 Dec 2013
She wasn't specific, ejbunicorn.

Stressed52 Dec 2013
ejbunicorn: You do not know that for sure, you believe they mean the mother has been collecting her benefits from when the father died. I thought so too when I first read the question, but read the question again, they want to know if another family member can claim it once both parents are gone. Most of us know that can not be done, they did not seem to be aware of that, therefore it does make you wonder if they just continued to let the checks come in from the father after his death, not realizing they needed to contact social security and they would have issued the money to the mother. Our reply to the question was a legitimate one. If you ever worked for Social Security you would be surprised at what you see.

ejbunicorn Dec 2013
come on holycow and n1k2r3 of course she means collecting his benefits as his spouse, really?

N1K2R3 Dec 2013
Be specific. As HolyCow stated: I hope you mean that she is collecting her share as his spouse, and not that they have been paying benefits to your father for the past twenty years since he has been dead.
When two married persons receive individual S S checks, and one person dies, the S S Administration will usually give the greater check to the surviving spouse. No need to figure.
I personally, would not let the funeral home contact the S S Administration. Trust no one, and check the date-of-death on the Death Certificate, signed by an Attending Physician.

Stressed52 Dec 2013
When you say that "your Mom collects your Dad's benefits" I hope you mean she is collecting her share as his spouse and not that they have been paying benefits to your father for the past 20 years that he has been dead. If this is the case, you will have a problem as they are going to want that money repaid to them.

When my father died we had to report his death to everyone, Social Security, His Union, banks etc. My mother was then set up to receive benefits under her name from his social security and his pension. When my Mom dies, everything stops, even though I am their disabled child and full time care giver. Benefits do not just go on forever they cease at the death of both spouses.

LindaH52 Dec 2013
N1K2R3 that is what I was told when I checked into it for my ex-husband's mother. The funeral direction contacts the SS administration.

Madeaa Dec 2013
Not all pension payments cease when the benefactor dies. Social Security does unless a minor child is involved. Some pensions are written to include spouse for her life and minor children.

N1K2R3 Dec 2013
There's no maybe, Charles. Social Security benefits and Pension payouts cease when the benefactor dies. Hint: If the benfactor dies on a day in any given month where the S.S. payout has already been received, then, believe it or not, the S.S. Administration will take back the payment asap. My mother died on the last day in February, and her Social Security check had already been deposited into her checking account. By March 3rd, it was gone. I didn't even know that they knew she was deceased. They'll zap it out electronically.
If you die on the last day of any month, they consider you dead for the whole month.

twotonne Dec 2013
Social security and most pensions will stop payment upon the death of both spouses, unless you are a dependent survivor (a minor) who is unable to work. You are responsible to inform SS and the pensions immediately upon the death of each parent so that the payments will stop without any paybacks required.
Annuities will pay out to the beneficiaries according to the options the person chose. Their 401K plans will be available and, of course, any life insurance. Final expenses and medical bills will have to be paid by a combination of Medicare, maybe Medicaid, and any money from bank accounts, investments, and life insurance, including the sale of real estate. You might get something after several months of paperwork. Find out the particulars of all their accounts now. Probate is not fun! If you have siblings, ask them to help.

LindaH52 Dec 2013
Maybe. It depends on whether your spouse chose a monthly payout based solely on his/her life expectancy, or a monthly payout that continues through your life - that is, the "joint and survivor" benefit option. If you aren't sure what your spouse chose, get in touch with the company providing the pension.

ferris1 Dec 2013
Even if it is social security or veteran's benefits, all payments stop at her death.

Madeaa Dec 2013
Important thing here is to remember to inform Social Security and any pension plans being paid out after death; otherwise you will have to pay them back. My father had direct deposit his pension and along with social security I had to inform them to stop putting money in that I'd have to pay back from his estate. There are some, few I'd say places that continue the benefits to the spouse, perhaps police and fire dept do and some large corps, but in any event once the living spouse dies they stop and do not go to the children, maybe some plans do, so it is important to check your paperwork now, not when you are bereft.

ejbunicorn Dec 2013
oh sorry i missunderstood, pension and social security will stop once both parents are gone, so sorry

bookluvr Dec 2013
Once your parents die, their retirement/pension ceases. Father thinks that's unfair. He said that when he dies, that they should continue to pay it out to me - as his caregiver. I told him that it doesn't work that way. It's for husband/wife situation.

ejbunicorn Dec 2013
socail security stops but my mom still collects my father's pension, he worked for chrysler and passed in 1994 but mom still gets his pension

Jinx4740 Dec 2013
Social security and pension stop when the spouse dies. If it is withdrawals from a 401K or IRA, and there is any money left, that will still be there.

pamstegma Dec 2013
What kind of benefits? Pension? if yes, it is gone gone gone.

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