Field guides/3 min
Social Security, and when you can skip a copy
If the funeral home already reported the death, you may not need to mail SSA anything.
The funeral home report
Most funeral directors file Form SSA-721, which reports the death to Social Security. Ask whether they did. If they did, SSA already has the fact of death. You still call SSA about survivors benefits, but you often do not mail a certificate.
When you do need one
If there was no funeral home, a home death with no director, or a death abroad, you may have to report it yourself. Bring a certified copy to a Social Security office. Do not mail your only copy.