The field office (FO) determines the precise cause of death from the death certificate or from any official source, e.g., the local registrar or Office of Vital Statistics, before forwarding the case to the disability determination services (DDS). The FO obtains proof of death prior to sending the case to the DDS, and includes this information in the file. The FO is also responsible for obtaining signed SSA-827s from the deceased claimant’s administrator, or other person with authority to act on behalf of the deceased individual or of the individual's estate.

NOTE: If, under applicable law, an executor, administrator, or other person has authority to act on behalf of a deceased individual or of the individual's estate (e.g., proper applicant), a description of the representative authority to act for the individual must be provided on the authorization form.

The FO notifies the DDS of the claimant's death, but does not develop the cause of death unless instructed to do so. The DDS develops the cause of death prior to adjudication unless an allowance is indicated based on the evidence already in file. If the DDS needs a death certificate, ask for FO assistance to obtain it. The DDS may also request the FO’s assistance in obtaining signed SSA-827s from the deceased claimant’s administrator, executor, or trustee.

When an individual dies within one year of the initial denial or cessation notice, and an allowance would increase survivor’s benefits, the processing center sends the file to the DDS for reexamination whenever the evidence concerning the claimant's death may justify review of the determination.