My mother died in August of 2020 - Social Security used the wrong death date, stopped her last payment (for July 2020) and then 6 months later stole an an additional 2 months payments out of our joint account. I can't find any information on what to do when SS OWES us money. I have been dealing with this for a year and a half. I have gotten the most absurd excuses - like the "back side of the form wasn't returned" so apparently in the mail the paper miraculously split in 2, the envelope opened, the back side came out, the front side refolded itself and the envelope resealed itself...Uh Huh. Sure it did. I have tried to call them for months. I get my name on the list and they never call me back. I follow up and they claim they called me. - BUT my cell phone keeps track of all incoming calls. I received a letter in July of 2021 saying the payment was being mailed. Not how much or what payment and here it is November 2021 and it still has not come. I have no money to hire a lawyer, and my mother's body still needs to be processed- I need this money to bury her! I am so tired and I don't know what else to do. Do you have any suggestions for me? Thank you!

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. The form required to claim benefits that were payable to a deceased person is an SSA-1724 (https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-1724.html). Assuming that form has already been submitted to Social Security, your only options are to a) continue following up with Social Security, and/or b) contact the offices of your U.S. congressional representative or one of your U.S. senators to ask them to make an inquiry with Social Security on your behalf.

Best, Jerry