Who Do You Need to Notify When Someone Dies in the US?

Detailed Explanation

This is the US version of the notification checklist. The general groups of people and organizations to tell are covered in who do you need to notify when someone dies. What's different in the US is that there's no national one-stop service like the UK's Tell Us Once. The funeral director handles the Social Security report in most cases, and almost everything else is contacted one by one. Many of those contacts are state programs, so the details depend on the state where the person lived.

For most agencies you'll need the person's Social Security number and certified copies of the death certificate, which are issued by the vital records office of the state where the death occurred.

Social Security and Medicare

The funeral director usually reports the death to the Social Security Administration (SSA) using the person's Social Security number. If they don't, the family should report it as soon as possible by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or contacting a local Social Security office. SSA only takes death reports by phone or in person, not online or by email. SSA handles death reports for Medicare as well, so a separate call to Medicare isn't needed.

Benefits stop with the death, and SSA can't pay for the month in which the person died. Because Social Security pays a month in arrears, the payment that arrives the month after the death has to be returned. If it came by direct deposit, the bank can send it back. The same call is the time to ask whether a surviving spouse or children are eligible for survivor benefits.

Federal agencies

• IRS: there's no separate notification. The person's final income tax return is filed in the usual way, covering income up to the date of death, and Form 1310 is used to claim any refund. IRS Publication 559 covers the process for survivors and executors.
• Department of State: returning the person's passport for cancellation helps prevent identity theft. The department will send the cancelled passport back if you want to keep it.
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): if the person was a veteran, the VA needs to be told so compensation, pension, education and health benefits stop. Families can also ask about burial benefits, survivor benefits and veterans life insurance.
• Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS): for a military retiree, DFAS stops the retired pay and sends Survivor Benefit Plan forms if the person was enrolled.
• Office of Personnel Management (OPM): for a federal employee or retiree, OPM handles the death report and any survivor annuity.

State and local agencies

These vary by state, and so do the forms and fees:

• State motor vehicles office (DMV or equivalent): to cancel the driver's license or ID card and transfer the title of any vehicle the person owned.
• State social services office: to cancel benefits such as SNAP, TANF, Medicaid or rental assistance.
• Local election office: to cancel the person's voter registration.
• State tax agency: in states with an income tax, a final state return may also be needed.

Banks, credit and insurance

• Banks and credit unions: to freeze or retitle accounts. Joint accounts and accounts with a payable-on-death beneficiary usually pass outside probate, while others wait for the executor or administrator.
• Credit card companies and lenders: debts are generally paid from the estate, not by relatives personally. The FTC sets out the exceptions, and there are rules on which relatives debt collectors may contact.
• Credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion): USAGov lists them among the organizations to notify. Marking the credit file as deceased helps prevent anyone opening credit in the person's name. Each bureau has its own process.
• Life insurers, annuity providers and retirement plan administrators (401(k), IRA, pensions): each needs a claim from the named beneficiary, usually with a certified death certificate.

Employer, utilities and subscriptions

The employer needs to know about final pay, any group life insurance, and retirement plan balances. Utilities, phone, streaming services and memberships are handled the same way as anywhere else. The general checklist and what happens to digital accounts when someone dies cover these.

If the person died abroad

If a US citizen dies in another country, the US embassy or consulate there is the first contact. It can help with local authorities, arrangements and documents. See how to repatriate a body after a death overseas for what bringing them home involves.

How this compares elsewhere

The US leaves more of this to the family than some countries do. The UK and Australia both run government services that pass the news to many organizations at once. See who to notify when someone dies in the UK and who to notify when someone dies in Australia if the person had ties to either country.

Things to Consider

• Order enough certified death certificates. Most agencies, banks and insurers want one. Fees and ordering rules are set by each state.
• Ask the funeral director what they've already reported. Confirming the SSA report was made avoids a gap, or a duplicate call.
• Check which state rules apply. DMV, voter registration, benefits, probate and community property rules all depend on the state where the person lived.
• Probate is a state process too. Who has authority to close accounts, and when, depends on state law and whether the estate goes through probate. If the estate is complicated or disputed, advice from a probate lawyer is worth getting.

Common Mistakes

• Spending the Social Security payment that arrived after the death. SSA can't pay for the month of death, so that payment has to be returned.
• Assuming someone else has told Social Security. Most funeral directors do report it, but it's worth confirming rather than assuming.
• Paying the person's debts out of your own pocket. Most debts are the estate's responsibility. Check the FTC's guidance or get advice before agreeing to pay anything personally.
• Leaving the passport and credit files alone. Cancelling the passport and alerting the credit bureaus both help prevent identity theft in the person's name.