How to close a deceased person's Social Security Administration account
Social Security Administration handles closing a deceased person's account through by phone, or in person. The steps below are Social Security Administration's own published process, taken from its official support pages — this page organizes them so you can see what the provider asks for; it doesn't add to them or recommend any particular action.
What you'll need
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- The account number, email, or phone number on the account
- Proof of your relationship to the deceased
Steps
- In most cases the funeral home reports the death to Social Security — give them the deceased's Social Security number so they can file the Statement of Death (SSA-721).
- If a funeral home is not involved, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778, Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–7 p.m.) or contact your local Social Security office; a death cannot be reported online.
- Provide the deceased's name, Social Security number, date of birth and date of death.
- Return any benefit payment received for the month of death or later — Social Security must be repaid for those months.
- Ask about survivor benefits: a surviving spouse, ex-spouse, children or dependent parents may qualify, and an eligible spouse living with the deceased can receive the one-time $255 lump-sum death payment. Applications are made by phone or at an office.
Closing one account is only part of the job — every recurring charge still draws on a card or bank account the estate will eventually claim. HeirLoft reads the recurring charges straight out of an inbox in one pass, so you can see everything that's still billing while you work down the list.
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How to contact Social Security Administration
- Social Security Administration's official page for deceased accounts
- Phone: 1-800-772-1213
Typical timeline
Social Security Administration does not publish a typical timeline for this process.
Notes
ssa.gov sits behind bot protection and could not be fetched for verification; the steps reflect the cited pages as indexed.
Sources
Last reviewed September 14, 2026 · Links verified September 14, 2026
Related guides
The simplest way to spare your own family this process is to keep an up-to-date list of your accounts somewhere they can find it. HeirLoft finds the recurring charges you've forgotten and keeps them in one place your heirs can actually use.