When someone passes away, it’s a tough time for everyone involved. Besides dealing with grief and saying goodbye, there are also practical things that need to be taken care of. If the person who died received SNAP benefits (that’s the program that helps people buy food), you might be wondering: what happens to those benefits? Let’s break it down and explore the details.
Ending SNAP Benefits After Death
The first thing to know is that SNAP benefits stop immediately when the person who was receiving them dies. That’s because SNAP is designed to help individuals and families buy food, and it’s not meant to continue after someone is no longer around to use them.
Reporting the Death
When a SNAP recipient dies, someone needs to report it to the SNAP office (usually the local Department of Social Services). This can be done by a family member, a friend, or the person handling the deceased’s affairs, like an executor of the will.
Reporting the death promptly is important. This helps to avoid any complications with the SNAP program. If the office isn’t notified, there could be issues like payments continuing to be issued or the potential for misuse of the benefits.
You can usually report the death by phone, in person, or sometimes online. You’ll need the deceased’s name, Social Security number, and date of death. The sooner you report it, the better to ensure everything is handled smoothly.
Here’s some information you might need when reporting the death:
- The deceased’s full name
- Social Security number
- Date of birth and date of death
- Contact information of the person reporting the death
Unused Benefits
What happens to any SNAP benefits that haven’t been used yet when the person dies? Generally, those benefits are gone.
SNAP benefits are typically provided on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. These benefits are for the use of the individual or household and are not transferrable. They are meant to be used for food, and they can’t be passed on to someone else.
If there were benefits remaining on the EBT card at the time of death, those benefits won’t be accessible to anyone else. Any funds left on the card are essentially forfeited back to the SNAP program. It’s important to use the benefits as quickly as possible before death.
Here are some things to keep in mind regarding unused benefits:
- Benefits do not get passed down to any heirs.
- Unused benefits cannot be cashed out for money.
- Benefits are meant for food purchases only.
SNAP and the Estate
You might be wondering if SNAP benefits can somehow be included in the deceased person’s estate. The answer is no.
The estate is what a person owns when they die. This includes things like property, bank accounts, and other assets. SNAP benefits aren’t considered an asset that goes into an estate.
Since SNAP benefits are specifically for food assistance and can’t be converted to cash, they aren’t something that can be passed on to heirs through an estate. They are used by the deceased while living, and that’s where their use ends.
The table below shows the comparison of SNAP benefits with other assets that can be part of an estate:
| Asset Type | Part of Estate? |
|---|---|
| Real Estate | Yes |
| Bank Accounts | Yes |
| SNAP Benefits | No |
Overpayments
Sometimes, the SNAP office may realize they accidentally gave someone too many benefits. This is called an overpayment. If someone was overpaid SNAP benefits, the state will try to recover the overpayment.
If a recipient dies and there’s an overpayment, the SNAP office will try to recover the overpayment from the deceased’s estate, if there are assets available. The specific laws about how this works can vary from state to state.
The process usually involves the state sending a notice to the estate or the person handling the deceased’s affairs. This notice explains the overpayment and how the estate can pay it back. However, if there are no assets in the estate, then the overpayment often goes uncollected.
Here are some possible ways an overpayment can be handled:
- The estate pays the overpayment from its assets.
- The overpayment may be written off if the estate has no assets.
- The state may negotiate a repayment plan if possible.
Other Household Members
If the person who died was part of a household receiving SNAP, the other members can continue to receive benefits, but they will have to reapply.
The SNAP office will need to be informed of the death. The remaining members of the household will then need to fill out a new application and prove they still qualify for SNAP. This means providing updated income, asset, and household information.
Their benefits will be recalculated, and it is possible that they will receive more or less. The amount of SNAP benefits the remaining members will receive depends on their income, resources, and the size of the household after the death of the original recipient.
Here are some things that would change after the death:
- The number of people in the household decreases.
- The household’s income may change.
- Their SNAP benefit amount can be adjusted accordingly.
How to Get Help
Dealing with a death is hard enough. If you’re unsure about any of this or have more questions, there are resources available to help you navigate it. First, call your local Department of Social Services or the SNAP office.
These offices can provide you with specific information about your state’s SNAP rules. They can also help you with things like reporting the death, understanding what happens to unused benefits, and figuring out the application process for other family members.
Also, don’t hesitate to ask for help from people like an attorney. An attorney is there to give you advice, handle legal matters, and guide you through the whole process.
Here’s a quick checklist of people who can help:
- Local Department of Social Services or SNAP office.
- An attorney specializing in estate planning.
- Financial advisors.
In conclusion, when someone who receives SNAP benefits passes away, the benefits stop immediately. Unused benefits are generally not accessible after death, and SNAP benefits do not become part of the person’s estate. It’s essential to report the death to the SNAP office promptly, and the remaining family members may need to reapply to receive benefits. Remember that help is always available, so don’t hesitate to seek guidance from the relevant offices or legal professionals.