Many thanks. That clears it up. I should have certified copies of the death certificate in a few days. Anecdotally, back in 2004 when my mother died at 3:30 am on her SS check day, SS took back the...

When husband and wife are both seniors on SS and the one with the greater SS check dies, does the survivor receive that check instead of the lower one? And how does one advise SSA of the situation?