When a person dies and they're drawing SSI does Social Security always take it all back

Hi. No. Social Security generally only asks for benefits to be returned if benefits are paid after a person dies. For example, let's say that Bob dies on April 28th 2021. Social Security benefits are not payable for the month of a person's death, so Bob would not be due a benefit payment for the month of April. However, since Social Security benefits are paid a month behind, the benefit payment that Bob received in April (i.e. for March) could be kept. But, if Bob's benefit payment for April is delivered in May, that payment would need to be returned to Social Security.

Best, Jerry