BASIC (09-09)

A. Assigning an SSN after death

There are circumstances which may require the field office (FO) to assign an SSN after a person's death. The FO must evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis. Examples of SSN after death requests include:

• A benefit claim which would allow for the payment of survivors' benefits (e.g., the survivors of a deceased alien not allowed to present evidence that the insured status requirements have been met). For additional insured status requirements that must be met in this situation, see RS 00301.102.

• A parent who requests an SSN for a deceased child when an SSN was not obtained through the Enumeration at Birth (EAB) process.

NOTE: FOs should not assign an SSN merely to process a claim for benefits to a denial or to obtain an SSN for a deceased child so that the parent(s) may claim the child as an exemption. For information on claiming exemptions, please visit IRS.gov.

Reference

GN 01010.420, Abandoned Claim Disallowances

B. Important references for SSN requests for deceased persons

• RM 10225.085, Field Office Procedure for Handling Requests for an Original Social Security Number (SSN) for a Deceased Person

• RM 10225.090, Request for Replacement Social Security Card (SSN Card) for a Deceased Person

• RM 10225.095, Request to Update Data on the Numident for a Deceased Person

• GN 02602.055, Erroneous Death Terminations

For additional information, see the SSNAP User Guide.