Written by
Matt Van Drimmelen
Full-Circle Aftercare
This article was written by Matthew Van Drimmelen, Owner of Full Circle Aftercare. Full Circle Aftercare helps families after the loss by:
Making sure you and your family won’t miss out on any benefits
Helping you make the official notification of death to necessary government agencies, financial institutions, insurance companies
Setting up fraud protection so thieves won’t use your loved one’s information
For more information, see the contact information at the bottom of the page.
“I personally know Matthew and the compassionate and valuable services his team provides after a loss, and I highly recommend their services.” - Dr. Jason Troyer
3 Pitfalls in Claiming Deceased Social Security Benefits
What Every Grieving Family Should Know
Did you know that in 2018 social security was audited and found that 82% (source) of widows and widowers were not receiving their full spousal benefits? Surviving spouses and children need guidance navigating this difficult process and should specifically watch out for the following pitfalls:
Pitfall #1: Not Claiming the Last Month’s Payment
Since SSA pays one month in arrears the deceased can often be due a last check. In most cases SSA is pulling that payment back even if the family is due the payment. In order to receive the final payment, the family might have to file a form SSA-1724. It is easy to do and can mean a difference of hundreds or thousands of dollars!
Pitfall #2: Going to the SSA Office
Most families will go directly into the social security office within days after their loved one passes. The last thing a grieving family member should have to do is sit in that waiting room for hours on end to only get vague answers. It is far better for surviving spouse to make an appointment via phone. This will save a lot of stress for the family. If they call the local office directly to make that appointment hold times should be less than 15 minutes.
Pitfall #3: Not Waiting to Take Benefits
Restricted application allows widow(er)s to claim benefits under their spouse while delaying their own benefits until age 70. This means the widow(er) can now get the best of both worlds. They get spousal benefits as early as age 60.5 and at age 70 they can claim their maximum benefits on their own work record.
Are You Confused or Overwhelmed with Contacting Financial Institutions, Government Agencies, and Insurance Companies? Would You Like Some Help?
The Full-Circle Aftercare Team - Based in the USA
Would you like personalized help navigating the maze of estate issues? The team at Full-Circle Aftercare can help you create a customized plan of action. Then they use 3-way conference calls to make the necessary notifications, closing accounts, claiming benefits, changing beneficiaries and protecting the estate.
Full-Circle Aftercare is based in the United States and never uses overseas customer service agents.
Contact Full-Circle Aftercare for a Free Consultation
You can contact Full-Circle Aftercare in the following ways. There is a fee to use their services, but there is no fee for the initial conversation and no obligation. Simply call, email, or complete the form to learn how they can help you.
Call: 888-713-4625
Email: info@full-circlecare.com
