You can apply for survivor's benefits at your local SSA office. You can make an appointment by​ calling 800-772-1213.

To report the death, you may

• Provide the deceased person's Social Security number to the funeral home, or
• Call Social Security at 800-772-1213. 

More information can be found on the SSA website. SSA has an online tool that you can use to find out if you could be eligible for benefits from any of the programs that Social Security administers.

Getting the death certificate for someone in the U.S. Military
Starting in 2023, if you need to get a copy of a death certificate for a member of the U.S. military, you can receive a copy at no cost to you. This applies to both active duty service members and veterans who were honorably discharged from the U.S. military. To get the death certificate, you will have to make a written request to your local registrar or county clerk. They can give you up to one certified copy of the death certificate, under seal, for free. If you need more than one copy, each additional copy should not be more than $6.