"You only get Social Security while you're alive," said Bruce Tannahill, a director of estate and business planning with MassMutual. "People need to take into account how important Social Security is in their estate planning," said Jim Blair, vice president of Premier Social Security Consulting and a former Social Security administrator. There are some key takeaways to know about what happens to Social Security benefits in the event you or a loved one passes away. If someone receives their monthly Social Security payment and then dies, the Social Security Administration may not take the money back, according to Blair. If a deceased beneficiary was due a Social Security check or a Medicare premium refund when they died, a claim may be submitted to the Social Security Administration.

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Persons: Bruce Tannahill, Jim Blair, Blair, Tannahill, Joe Elsasser, Elsasser Organizations: Getty, Social, Premier Social Security Consulting, Social Security, Finance, Social Security Administration, Security