Form SSA 1724 Instructions

If you’re handling the affairs of a deceased relative, you should know that unpaid Social Security benefits or Medicare refunds might go to the decedent’s estate. And if that’s the case, you’ll need to complete and submit Form SSA-1724 (technically Form SSA-1724-F4) to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Let’s start with how to complete this form.

How do I fill out SSA 1724?

Form SSA 1724 is fairly straightforward. Although it does not have instructions, most of the fields are self-explanatory. Let’s start with the header, which contains the decedent’s information.

Deceased person’s information

In this section, you’ll complete the deceased individual’s information. This includes the following information:

  • Printing the name of the deceased
  • Deceased’s Social Security Number
  • Date of death
  • State of residence

If the decedent received benefits on another person’s record, print the name of that person.

Form SSA-1724 Deceased beneficiary information
Deceased’s information includes name and Social Security number

Applicant’s information

In this section of the form, you’ll complete the information requested:

  • Print name of the applicant
  • Applicant’s relationship to deceased
Name of applicant and relationship to deceased
Applicant’s information

Next of kin information

The next of kin information takes up most of the form. It’s important to include ALL of the information as requested by the SSA.

The Form SSA-1724 will give specific instructions on the required information. Omitting information outside of these instructions doesn’t necessarily change entitlement to unpaid benefits. However, omissions may impact payment.

Let’s start with the surviving spouse section.

Item 1: Surviving spouse

If there is a surviving spouse, you’ll enter:

  • Spouse’s name
  • Spouse’s address
  • Spouse’s SSN
Address

For all claimants, the survivor’s mailing address includes:

  • House number
  • Street or apartment number
  • P.O. Box number
  • City
  • State
  • Zip code

If the surviving spouse was living in the same house as the decedent, he or she will:

  • Select “Yes” for the box that says, “Was the widow(er) named above living in the same household with the deceased at the time of death?”
  • Skip items 2-5
  • Sign at the bottom of page 2

If the surviving spouse was receiving monthly benefits on the same earnings record as the decedent, he or she will:

In cases where there is no surviving spouse, write “NONE” in the name block and move to Item 2.

Form SSA-1724 Item 1: Surviving spouse information
Item 1: Surviving spouse

Item 2: Children of the deceased

In item 2, you’ll enter the number of living children of the decedent. Specifically, include:

  • Adopted children
  • Stepchildren
  • Grandchildren and step-grandchildren if:
    • Their parents are disabled or deceased, or
    • If the surviving spouse of the deceased adopted them

For each child, include:

You may need more space for additional explanations. If so, attach a separate sheet with the form when you submit it.

Number of living children of the deceased

If there are no children of the deceased, go directly to Item 4 (skipping Item 3).

Item 3

If there is a listed child of the deceased that has a different name from their given birth name on their birth certificate, you’ll need to attach a separate sheet with the following information:

  • Child’s current name
  • Child’s birth name
  • Explanation for the difference (court order, marriage certificate, etc).
SSA-1724 Item 3: Child's documentation for different name than birth name
Additional information may be required for children with names different from their birth name

Unlike Item 1, neither Item 2 nor Item 3 specifically state to skip Item 4. Once you have completed Item 2 or Item 3, proceed to Item 4.

Item 4: Parents of the deceased

In Item 4, you’ll enter the number of living parents of the deceased individual. If there are none, enter “None” and go to Item 5. Include adopting parents and/or stepparents.

For each living parent, include:

  • Parent’s name
  • Parent’s address
  • Parent’s Social Security Number
Number of living parents of the deceased
Information for living parents of the deceased goes into Item 4

Once complete, you can move down to the next item.

If no family member can complete this form, then the legal representative will complete this section. If there are surviving relatives (either Items 1, 2, or 4 are filled out), then skip down to the signature block.

The legal representative will fill in their contact information (name and address). The representative will also have to submit a certified copy of letter of appointment.

Legal representative of the decedent's estate

Signature

The signature field is where the applicant states, under penalty of perjury, that they are eligible for the unpaid benefits and refunded premiums.

Penalty of perjury
Signing Form 1724 carries a penalty of perjury

Underneath the perjury declaration, the applicant will:

  • Sign their full name.
  • Current date
  • Telephone number (include area code)
  • Mailing address (house number and street, apartment number, PO Box or rural route)
  • City
  • State
  • County
  • Zip code

The applicant will also provide their direct deposit payment address for their financial institution. This will include:

  • Account type (checking or savings)
  • Nine digit routing number
  • Account number

The rest of this field only needs to be filled in if the applicant signed “X” as their legal signature. If that’s the case, two witnesses are required to sign stating that they know the applicant. Each witness is also required to provide their full address.

Signature of applicant and payment information

Once you’ve completed the signature field at the end of Page 2, that’s all you’re required to fill out. However, Page 3 contains useful information that the Social Security Administration is required to disclose.

The Privacy Act Notice contains this information.

Privacy Act Notice

As a federal agency, the SSA is required to follow all applicable federal laws when it comes to the use of any person’s information. The Privacy Act Notice notifies you exactly what rules apply.

Social Security Act

The Social Security Act authorizes the SSA to collect. information for the purpose of determining the beneficiary’s payment. Although providing this information is voluntary, the SSA may not be able to make the appropriate Social Security payment or reimburse a beneficiary’s premiums without it.

The Social Security Administration may also use this information to:

  • Help improve the efficiency and integrity of Social Security programs
  • Comply with Federal laws requiring the release of information from Social Security records,
  • Make determinations for eligibility in similar health or income programs at the federal, state, and local levels
  • Facilitate research for the improvement of Social Security programs

You can find a complete list of routine uses in the Privacy Act Systems of Records Notices, which you can find online or at your local Social Security office.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

This section states that this form meets the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Their time estimate to complete this form is 10 minutes.

Privacy act notice

Video walk through

If you prefer, we’ve created this instructional video that covers SSA-1724. Feel free to watch this video first, then re-read the article to cover any of the finer points.

YouTube video

Frequently asked questions about Form SSA-1724

What Is Form SSA-1724?


Form SSA-1724 is also known as: Claim For Amounts Due In The Case Of Deceased Beneficiary.

If the Social Security Administration owed the deceased unpaid SSA benefits or a Medicare premium refund, then completing form SSA-1724 would be the first step towards claiming that money.

SSA-1724 is a three page document. However, the applicant only needs to fill out two pages. According to the SSA’s time estimate in its Paperwork Reduction Act statement, an applicant should only take about 10 minutes to complete this entire form.

Who fills out SSA-1724?

Generally speaking, the proper beneficiary should complete this form. That person will likely be either the legal representative of the deceased person or the next of kin. Usually, the next of kin is also the legal representative of the estate, but not always.

The SSA uses a specific order of precedence to determine the proper beneficiary. Since there is a slight difference between the order of precedence for Social Security benefits and Medicare premium refunds, we’ll list each of them separately.

Where can I go for help in completing SSA-1724?

If you need help, you can go to your local Social Security office, or contact their toll free number at: 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday from 7:00 to 7:00 (local time).

Deaf or hard of hearing persons can call the SSA TTY number at 1-800-325-0778 or call using a relay service, like Sorenson.

How do I file Form SSA-1724?

You can submit your completed form to your local Social Security office. For assistance, call the SSA’s toll-free number at: 800-772-1213, Monday through Friday from 7:00 to 7:00 (local time).

Deaf or hard of hearing persons can call the SSA TTY number at 1-800-325-0778 or call using a relay service, like Sorenson.

Who is entitled to a deceased person’s Social Security?

In the case of a deceased Social Security recipient, the SSA will pay unpaid Social Security benefits in the following order:

1. A surviving spouse who was either living in the same household as the deceased at the time of death, or who, for the month of death, was entitled to a monthly benefit on the deceased person’s record;
2. Children entitled to a monthly benefit on the same record as the deceased;
3. Parents who, for the month of the person’s death, were entitled to a monthly benefit on the decedent’s Social Security record;
4. A surviving spouse who doesn’t meet the requirements in #1, above;
5. Children who do not meet #2 above;
6. Parents who do not meet #3 above; or
7. The legal representative of the deceased person’s estate.

Who is entitled to a deceased person’s Medicare premium refund?

The order of entitlement for a deceased beneficiary’s Medicare premiums is slightly different from unpaid benefits. In the case of a deceased Medicare beneficiary, the legal representative of the decedent’s estate is listed as the first beneficiary, instead of last:

1. The legal representative of the deceased person’s estate, or
2. A surviving spouse who was either living in the same household as the deceased at the time of death, or who, for the month of death, was entitled to a monthly benefit on the decedent’s Social Security record;
3. Children entitled to a monthly benefit on the same record as the deceased;
4. Parents who, for the month of death, were entitled to a monthly benefit on the decedent’s Social Security record;
5. A surviving spouse who doesn’t meet the requirements in #2, above;
6. Children who do not meet #3 above;
7. Parents who do not meet #4 above.

Where can I find a copy of SSA-1724?

You can find a fillable form of this document on the SSA website in PDF format. For your convenience, we’ve attached the most current version to the end of this article.

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33 Comments

  1. Anne Sweet says:

    This is a great article, but I can’t find where to send the form. It isn’t on the form itself…I downloaded it and the form says “return it to us in the enclosed evelope” Also, do you know what types of SSA benefits this form applies to? I am getting conflicting information about SSI amount due.

    1. Forrest Baumhover says:

      Anne,

      On the SSA website, the instructions state to send the completed form to your local SSA office. There does not appear to be any option for faxing or mailing the form.

      Regarding benefits, this form’s intent is to direct any final Social Security benefits that the decedent was entitled to, or request any refund of overpaid Medicare premiums that the federal government owes the decedent’s estate.

  2. Lisa Milliken says:

    Can I submit this form online, rather than putting it in the mail?

    1. Forrest Baumhover says:

      According to the SSA website, it appears there is not a way to submit this form online or by fax. Understandably, you might not want to mail this form with personal information attached to it. If you cannot physically deliver this form to the local SSA office, you might consider sending the form by certified mail or UPS/FedEx/DHL. The additional security and peace of mind may be worth the additional cost.

  3. Nancy gerow says:

    I have filled out the form but I need the address to send it. How do I get this?

    1. Forrest Baumhover says:

      According to the SSA website, you should send the completed form to your local Social Security office. To find your closest office, you can use this SSA website link: https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp

  4. Mary Bryant says:

    I want to clarify the children section. My late husband has 3 adult living children. All are employed and paying into SS. None are dependents of the deceased. Do they get included on this form or does the term”children” refer to minor children or children who are still dependents of the deceased?

    1. Forrest Baumhover says:

      You would include all living children on this form. When it comes to determining priority for paying unpaid Social Security benefits & returning unused Medicare premiums, non-dependent children are at a lower priority level than surviving spouses, dependent children, or dependent parents. The SSA will affirm this when going through the application.

  5. Ruben martinez says:

    How do I do it if both of them died

    1. Forrest Baumhover says:

      Ruben,

      I’m sorry for your loss. You may want to discuss with the Social Security Administration, just to see what, if any, outstanding payments each spouse had. You may need to complete one form 1724 for only one spouse (if that spouse was the only person who had outstanding unpaid benefits), or on behalf of each spouse. But you only need to complete Form 1724 in the case of outstanding Social Security payments, or unused Medicare premiums.

  6. This does not cover the situation where the Deceased was in a nursing home, and died there, while the spouse continued to live in their residence. How should this be handled?

    Also, both Deceased and Spouse were receiving SSA benefits on their own earning records. I believe the spouse can now request the Deceased SSA payment amount for herself, right? Would this mean that she is entitled to a monthly benefit on the same earnings record as the Deceased?
    thanks!

    1. Forrest Baumhover says:

      The form instructions do not cover situations where a decedent was living in a nursing facility, and not in the same residence as the spouse. I imagine that there is some sort of procedure for allowing that as an exception, but you would have to ask the SSA to verify.

      A surviving spouse generally is eligible for the higher of their own benefits or their deceased spouse’s benefits. There may be some options available depending on the specifics of the situation (age, how long the spouse was receiving benefits on their own behalf, etc). But generally, the SSA should help the spouse get the higher benefit.

  7. Julie Ann says:

    If I don’t include bank information for direct deposit, will they mail a check instead?

    1. Forrest Baumhover says:

      Generally speaking, the SSA procedures direct employees to issue a check in the case a payee does not consent to electronic payment. Although there’s nothing specific in the SSA 1724 instructions, you can probably expect the SSA to at least discuss the benefits of direct deposit (like not losing a paper check, security, etc.), before issuing a check. But I don’t believe they can force you to accept electronic payment.

  8. T.J. Walker says:

    In the case of an adult child who receives the last month’s SS for a deceased parent – and they receive a 1099 issued to their (the adult child) SS# – is this reportable as income to the child (taxable?)? It seems if it had been deposited to the late parent’s bank account it would have been reported on a final tax return or 1041 and never hit the adult child’s 1040.

    1. Forrest Baumhover says:

      You’re correct. If the payment had gone to the estate, it would have been taxable to the estate, and the SSA would have issued the Form 1099 accordingly.

      However, the SSA issued the Form 1099 to the person who actually received the money, since that was payable to that person, and not the estate.

  9. My husband’s sisters have both passed. He is listed in section two as the living child. Do the children of his deceased sister need to be listed as well?
    Thanks! Great article and video!

    1. Forrest Baumhover says:

      I’m not sure how to answer this question without knowing who the decedent was. If it was your husband’s sister, then your husband shouldn’t be listed on the form, except as a representative of her estate..otherwise, only his sister’s children would go on there.

      Could you clarify whom the decedent was, and what your husband’s relationship is?

      1. My husband’s mom passed away. His father and two sisters have also passed so he is the only living child. Would our niece and nephew be added to the form or only his name?

        1. Forrest Baumhover says:

          Now I understand.

          The way I read the form instructions, it would make sense that your husband would be on the form, as well as your niece and nephew, in Step 2. Since your husband’s sister is deceased (otherwise, she would be listed on the form), the form does indicate that her children should be listed instead.

  10. I feel like children should be defined better. Should adult children be listed on the 1724 form. I’m the executor for my father’s estate and my siblings all over the age of 40 were not left anything g in the will, are they supposed to be listed on the 1724 form? Or is it just dependent children at the time of the deceased’s death?

    1. Forrest Baumhover says:

      The SSA form contains two categories for children: Children who were entitled to SSA benefits based on the deceased’s records, and children who were not.

      In this case, your father’s unpaid benefits would be distributed, equally, in the following order:

      1. The surviving spouse who was either living in the same household as the deceased at the time of death or who, for the month of death, was entitled to a monthly benefit on the same record as the deceased;
      2. Children who, for the month of death, were entitled to a monthly benefit on the same record as the deceased;
      Parents who, for the month of death, were entitled to a monthly benefit on the same record as the deceased;
      3. A surviving spouse not qualified under 1. above;
      4. Children not qualified under 2. above;
      5. Parents not qualified under 3. above; or
      6. The legal representative of the deceased person’s estate.

      If your father had any children who were entitled to benefits on his record, then that person (or persons) would receive the entire benefit, before any non-qualified (#4) would receive benefits. Your father’s will does not impact the information that should be reported.

  11. Dianne Larson says:

    Should form SSA-1724 be filled out by EACH eligible beneficiary?

    THREE adult children are listed in Section 2 (with their relationship, address, and social security number), but Direct Deposit Payment information can only be entered for ONE beneficiary – the applicant.

    1. Forrest Baumhover says:

      You should complete ONE Form SSA-1724 for all three adult children, even though there is only direct deposit information for one person.

      According to the SSA operations manual, the SSA does not need the actual Form SSA 1724 to process this, nor do they need direct deposit information to process the request. However, you can submit in your own format (and presumably direct deposit information for each individual), as long as you meet the SSA’s basic requirements. Here is the link for more information: https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202301050

      I would definitely try to confirm this with your local SSA office before going off-script, though.

  12. Louise Lewis says:

    The 3rd line of Item 1 – If answer is Yes, you skip items 2,3,4,5. It doesn’t say to skip the 4th line of Item 1. It doesn’t say to immediately go to the end, but I think that is what they meant.
    The 4th line of Item 1 – if answer is No, you go to Item 2.
    This is contradictory. Do I do Item 2 or not?

    1. Forrest Baumhover says:

      I believe that the intent is this: If there is a surviving spouse that either was living in the same house as the decedent or was entitled to monthly benefits based upon the decedent’s earnings, then you don’t need to do Items 2-5.

      So if you’re a surviving spouse that meets either requirement, then you’ll be entitled to receive the entire amount of unpaid benefits, and you don’t need to complete any information for the remaining (possible beneficiaries) in Items 2 through 5.

  13. Madeline Broussard says:

    This article was very helpful. I was able to fill out my paper work for S.S.A. by reading this. Wonderful!!

  14. Richard Mundell says:

    I don’t have my brother’s SSN and he will not give it to me. I did list him on the form and have all of the other information related to him except his SSN. Will the accept the form missing that?

    Thanks

    1. Forrest Baumhover says:

      If you don’t have your brother’s SSN, and he won’t give it to you, then you probably should be able to turn it in. There are many situations where the SSA is able to work through this.

      If I had to guess, the SSA can probably contact your brother directly, verify his identity, and process the form accordingly.

  15. Pamela Brown says:

    I am the surviving widow. On #1 of form SSA-1724-F4, I answered “yes” to living in same household.
    I receive my own SS benefit each month so I don’t know how to answer earnings record question.
    HELP!

    1. Forrest Baumhover says:

      If you were already receiving SSA benefits, then you would be entitled to your deceased spouse’s benefits. Enter ‘Yes,’ for the second question in Item 1, skip Items 2-5, then sign the form.

      The SSA will give you the higher of:

      -Your SSA benefits from your earnings record
      -Benefits you might be eligible for based upon your spouse’s earnings record

  16. Many thanks for this explanation.

    I’m executor for my uncle and he had no living spouse, child, or parent. I need to submit SSA-1724 to obtain his final Social Security payment.

    The payment won’t go to any specific relative. It will instead go to the estate and be deposited in estate’s bank account.

    Am I correct that the payment must be reported on estate’s 1041 tax return?

    Form SSA-1724 asks for Social Security number of my uncle, but it does not ask for the tax ID number of the estate (EIN).

    In your earlier reply to T.J. Walker, you said: “If the payment had gone to the estate, it would have been taxable to the estate, and the SSA would have issued the Form 1099 accordingly.”

    I’m confused about the 1099 situation.

    When the payment is made to my uncle’s estate, does it get reported on any type of 1099 form?

    Does the payment get reported on my uncle’s SSA-1099 form?

    If it does, and I don’t report the payment on his 1040 tax return, but only report the payment on the 1041 return, this would seem to create a problem because the income reported on 1040 won’t match the income reported on SSA-1099.

    1. Forrest Baumhover says:

      For most individuals, there should be a final tax return filed on behalf of the decedent in the year of death. If your uncle passed away in 2024, then your Form SSA-1724 would obtain his final SSA payment. He would then receive a final SSA-1099 form next year. You (presumably), would complete (or hire a CPA to do so) his final tax return, and close out your uncle’s tax file.

      Unless there is a specific tax situation, you might not need to file Form 1041. Most deceased taxpayers’ representatives are able to close out their affairs and file a final tax return in the year of death. Below is a link with some of the considerations (such as pulling your uncle’s tax transcript to make sure there aren’t any past-due balances).

      https://www.irs.gov/individuals/file-the-final-income-tax-returns-of-a-deceased-person