You cannot report a death or apply for survivors’ benefits online.
If you need to report a death, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 ( TTY 1-800-325-0778). You can speak to a Social Security representative between 7 AM and 7 PM Monday through Friday.
Note: In most cases, the funeral home will report the person’s death to Social Security. If you want them to do that, you will need to give the deceased’s Social Security Number to the funeral director so they can make the report.
To find out how to apply for benefits, go to
For more information, please read How Social Security Can Help You When A Family Member Dies.
Planning for Survivors
Use our Survivors Planner to look at survivors benefits from two sides:
- how your family members are protected if you die, and
- how you may qualify as a survivor on someone else's Social Security record.
This protection is particularly important for young families with children.