social security

[bertshannon]

I live in Michigan State. My mother-in-law passed away very recently, she had been receiveing social security. Since she passed away on the last day of the month of February, Social Security now says her husband must repay the last months check. Is this right? If she had lasted another 12 hours things would be fine. She was alive the whole month, and needed the money for expenses throughout that time. Thanks.

S. DeWitt

 

[Grandma B]

This is from the SS website: "Social Security benefits are not paid for the month in which an individual dies. Example: An individual receives a Social Security check in June for the month of May, and dies after the receipt of that payment. The individual would be entitled to the check received in June (May's payment) because the individual lived throughout the month of May. However, the check issued in July (for the month of June) would have to be returned to Social Security because the individual did not live throughout the month of June."

She was entitled to the check received in February (for the month of January). The check received in March (for the month of February) is the one they want repaid. Sounds like it doesn't matter to them whether you die February 1 or February 28; you simply don't get paid for the month in which you die.

Try checking on the Estate Planning & Elderlaw board to see if someone there has additional knowledge about this.

Her husband is eligible for a one-time benefit of $255 as a surviving spouse.