Let's put it in plain English.....Social Security payments lag one month. In other words, when a check is received in August, no matter when in August, it is for JULY. If someone passes in August, a check is still received in August because it is for JULY. Then, no matter what day of the month in August that person passed, no check will be received in September because the September check would have been for August because the person passed in August. I tried to state it clearly but I have a tendency to be wordy so I hope this helps.
my husband was very alive in june , he got his s.s on july 3 for the june payment he died on on the 30 of july...my question is if the july payment was for june why did s.s take away the payment at his death date on the 30th if in fact the july payment was for june?
Here's a bit more from the online Caregiver's Library.
No benefits are payable the month that a beneficiary dies. This means that the Social Security check received the month after an individual has died should be returned to the Social Security Administration. Methods for returning the check differ depending on whether the check is direct deposited or arrives in the mail. If Social Security checks are being direct deposited, notify the bank as soon as possible. If the check arrives in the mail, take it to a local Social Security office to have the receiver’s name changed.
Generally, the name will be changed to that of a close family member—such as a spouse or unmarried child. Family members often are eligible for survivor benefits when a retired worker dies. Additionally, spouses receive a one-time payment of $255 if they lived with the deceased at the time of death, or if they were receiving Social Security benefits based on the earning records of the deceased. In cases where there is no spouse, children who are eligible for benefits based on the deceased’s work record may collect the one-time payment.
JessieBelle answers are spot-on! I'd like to add that SS will do a clawback of the overpaid month from whatever account it was direct- deposited into. For my mom, SS did their clawback within a few days but federal retirement took 30 days. If the funds are not there, they will keep attempting and the account building NSF fees. If you are doing probate and you are the named executor as per the will and this happens, it could allow for your being named executor to be disallowed. Not good.
My mom recveived her soc sec check on or about the 1st of every month. She died on the 12th. I did not have to pay anything back to Soc Security but I didn't get another check (I called them 1st thing).
I realize this is an old thread, but I need to ring in here. First, SS FORCED me to become my mother's "representative payee." They refused to give or receive ANY information from me about Mom without the RP form. Mom died on February 28, 2017 at 6:55 pm and, since I had already used the money to pay the nursing home for Feb, they're taking MY benefits to pay back the month of Feb, because "we don't pay for the month of death." I tried to use the "It's not my fault and would cause financial hardship" argument, but they told me to forget it, that it "won't fly." The woman told me, "You're the representative payee, Sir; you're responsible for that money!" I told her I don't have $933, and she said, "That's okay, Sir - we'll just stop your benefits until the money is paid back." Great. That makes me feel so much better. Then she said this, which was infuriating: "You can fight it if you want to, Sir, but a lawyer will cost you a lot more than $933." Turns out she was right. The attorneys I spoke with told me I should take the hit and move on. Great advice, but how do I pay my own bills in the meantime? I'm a disabled vet living on a very meager fixed income, so I have to be very careful with what little money I have. Oh, that's the other thing: just to rub a little salt into the wound, she did make a point of "thanking me for my service," but I think she was mocking me, given her snotty tone. Is anyone still out there reading this thread? Is there anything I can do to defend my own benefits?
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No benefits are payable the month that a beneficiary dies. This means that the Social Security check received the month after an individual has died should be returned to the Social Security Administration. Methods for returning the check differ depending on whether the check is direct deposited or arrives in the mail. If Social Security checks are being direct deposited, notify the bank as soon as possible. If the check arrives in the mail, take it to a local Social Security office to have the receiver’s name changed.
Generally, the name will be changed to that of a close family member—such as a spouse or unmarried child. Family members often are eligible for survivor benefits when a retired worker dies. Additionally, spouses receive a one-time payment of $255 if they lived with the deceased at the time of death, or if they were receiving Social Security benefits based on the earning records of the deceased. In cases where there is no spouse, children who are eligible for benefits based on the deceased’s work record may collect the one-time payment.
I'd like to add that SS will do a clawback of the overpaid month from whatever account it was direct- deposited into. For my mom, SS did their clawback within a few days but federal retirement took 30 days. If the funds are not there, they will keep attempting and the account building NSF fees. If you are doing probate and you are the named executor as per the will and this happens, it could allow for your being named executor to be disallowed. Not good.
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