We may need proof of the following:

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  death of the underpaid beneficiary, claimant, or other person;

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  relationship to the deceased;

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  disability; and

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  the claimant’s qualification as legal representative of the deceased beneficiary’s estate.

If proof of the beneficiary’s death was not submitted previously, or is not annotated to our systems, we require proof of their death. Proof is required regardless of the amount of the underpayment.

We require proof of death of claimants in a higher or same order of priority before payment of the underpayment only when there is conflicting evidence that the claimant may be alive.

We require proof of death of other persons if it is needed to establish the claimant’s relationship to the deceased beneficiary (for example, to establish that a grandchild meets the definition of a child of the deceased beneficiary under GN 00306.235). For more information, see GN 02301.055D.

For information on preferred proofs of death, see GN 00304.005.

NOTE: Before issuing a death underpayment, check the Numident to determine if the potential recipient is deceased. If an individual in the order of priority list dies before receiving payment, see GN 02301.030B.2.

We will pay an underpayment of three months’ monthly benefit payable (MBP) or less to the surviving spouse, child or parent based on that claimant's allegation without additional proof of relationship unless there is evidence that they are not entitled to the underpayment.

For underpayments of more than three months’ MBP, we need proof of the claimant’s relationship to the beneficiary .

NOTE: If our records show that the claimant’s relationship to the deceased beneficiary was already established, do not request proof of relationship.

For Benefit Authorizer payment instructions for a Title II underpayment due a deceased beneficiary, see GN 02301.075.

For policy on proof of a marital relationship, see subchapter GN 00305.000.

For policy on use of the Numident for proof of a parent-child relationship, see GN 00306.012B and GN 00306.013B .

For more information about establishing a relationship as a surviving spouse, child, or parent, see GN 02301.055F in this section.

For policy explaining use of the Numident for basic identification purposes, see GN 00203.020.

A grandchild or step-grandchild of a deceased beneficiary may qualify as a child under Title II, and for an underpayment due a deceased beneficiary, if they meet the requirements in GN 00306.235. Some of those requirements involve the disability or death of the grandchild’s or step-grandchild’s parents, or the disability of the deceased beneficiary. If a grandchild or step-grandchild seeks to qualify for the underpayment based on another person’s disability, we need proof of disability. Similarly, as explained in GN 02301.055B in this section, if the grandchild or step-grandchild seeks to qualify based on another person’s death, we need proof of their death.

If the grandchild or step-grandchild does not qualify as a child under GN 00306.235, they may qualify for the underpayment as a legal representative of the estate under GN 02301.035 if no one else is higher on the priority list in GN 02301.030.

When the claimant seeks to qualify for receipt of the underpayment as the legal representative of the deceased beneficiary’s estate, we need evidence showing the claimant is qualified to be the legal representative. For a list of ways a claimant can qualify as a legal representative, and the evidence needed to establish legal representative status, see GN 02301.035.