Losing a loved one is heartbreaking. The last thing most families want to worry about is paperwork or government benefits. If your loved one passes away after applying for Social Security disability benefits, you may wonder what happens to their claim.
The answer depends on the type of disability benefit they applied for.
If your loved one applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
The claim doesn’t automatically end after a person’s death. In many cases, a family member can continue the claim. If Social Security later approves the claim, any back pay your loved one was owed may be paid to certain surviving family members.
If your loved one applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
The rules are much stricter for SSI. In most cases, unpaid SSI benefits cannot be paid to children or to the estate of a claimant. They are usually payable only to an eligible surviving spouse, although there are a few limited exceptions.
If your loved one applied for both SSDI and SSI
Each claim will follow different rules that you need to be aware of.
If the claim was:
- at the initial application stage,
- at reconsideration appeal stage, or
- scheduled for a hearing,
then SSA should be notified as soon as possible. Social Security will explain what information is needed and whether someone can continue the claim.
If your loved one had a disability representative:
- contact them as soon as possible. They can help you understand what happens next and work with you to complete and submit any required paperwork to SSA
Every family’s situation is different. What happens next depends on the type of claim, whether Social Security owed any benefits and who survives your loved one.
Don’t assume the claim is over if your loved one passed away while waiting for a disability decision. You may still have options, especially if they applied for SSDI. An experienced disability representative can explain your rights and help you through the process during an already difficult time.