Informing Government Agencies of a Loved One's Death (Transcript)
D. "Rep" DeLoach III, Estate Planning and Board Certified Elder Law Attorney
When someone dies, there's no need to call Social Security or the VA or any other government units, for instance, because when upon the creation of the death certificate, the County Medical Examiner's Office actually informs Social Security upon that person's passing. That means Social Security cross-indexes with the Department of Veteran Affairs and with other government agencies, so they know when to turn off the Social Security and other benefits, so you don't actually need to call Social Security in order to wrap up someone's or to stop their Social Security benefit. Now, if you are the surviving spouse of the decedent, and there are actually Social Security benefits, there's a 255 benefit to pay for funeral expenses that Social Security would eventually pay you, but, otherwise, you don't need to call Social Security because, again, the County Medical Examiner's Office has already informed the Department of Social Security of your loved one's passing.
