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Social Security

Statement of Death by Funeral Director (Form SSA-721)

Report a death to Social Security promptly.

We'll guide you through it, step by step

  • ✓Simple questions in plain language — no legal jargon
  • ✓We fill in the official form and check for common mistakes
  • ✓Private — no document uploads

Free to start • No credit card • Official form

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Estimated fee

No government fee

View official fee calculator ↗

Typical timeline

Processed within 1 to 4 weeks

Category

Social Security

Who qualifies

Authorized funeral directors or mortuary personnel handling funeral arrangements for a deceased person who held a U.S. Social Security number.

The step-by-step roadmap

  1. 1

    Gather Decedent Information

    Collect the deceased individual's full legal name, Social Security number, date of birth, and date of death.

    Watch out: Verify the Social Security number against official records to avoid reporting the wrong person.
    Common rejection reason: Mismatched Social Security number or misspelled legal name.
  2. 2

    Identify Surviving Family

    Record details for any surviving spouse or eligible dependent children who may qualify for survivor benefits.

    Watch out: Incomplete contact details can delay the lump-sum death payment to eligible survivors.
    Common rejection reason: Omission of known surviving spouse or dependent child information.
  3. 3

    Complete Funeral Home Section

    Enter the funeral establishment's business name, address, telephone number, and the funeral director's signature.

    Watch out: Do not submit without an authorized signature and valid contact details.
    Common rejection reason: Missing signature or incomplete funeral home contact information.
  4. 4

    Submit to Social Security

    Send the completed form directly to the local Social Security Administration office handling the area.

    Watch out: Check if your state utilizes Electronic Death Registration (EDR) before mailing a paper form.
    Common rejection reason: Duplicate submissions or delivery to an incorrect regional office.

Documents you'll need

  • Deceased Person's Vital Records

    Records confirming the decedent's full legal name, Social Security number, and death date.

    Note: Used to verify identity before notifying the SSA.

  • Surviving Relative Details

    Names, addresses, and phone numbers of the surviving spouse and dependent children.

    Note: Helps SSA identify who may receive the $255 lump-sum death payment.

  • Funeral Establishment Credentials

    Name, license number, and contact info of the mortuary or funeral home.

    Note: Confirms the submitter is an authorized death care professional.

Ready to start?

Run the free eligibility check first, then get your personalized roadmap and document checklist.

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Fees and timelines are as published by the relevant agency and may change — verify before filing. This guide is general information, not legal advice.