In addition to providing these organizations and companies with the relevant information about the deceased’s relationship to the company (employee, policyholder, investor, etc.) you will need to provide some personal information about the person who died. Gathering this information all at once can make the process of closing down accounts and applying for benefits go much more smoothly.

Information you may need about the person who died

• The name (and maiden name or previous names) of the person who died
• The last address where the person who died lived
• His or her Social Security number
• His or her date of birth and death
• Death certificate
• Your name and address
• Your relationship to the person who died (proof may be required)
• Your Social Security number
• Your birth certificate

In some cases, you may be asked to provide:

• The deceased’s most recent W-2 forms or federal self-employment tax return
• The name of your bank and your account number so benefits can be directly deposited into your account