US Social Security - Reclamation of payment after death?

[daboomer]

My mother passed away last year and the US Social Security administration (Department of Treasury) ent a letter to the Canadian Financial Institution receiving the direct deposit to return the payment for the month of death. I am the executor of her estate. She was and I am a Canadian citizen.

Does the US Department of Treasury have the authority to force the estate to repay the amount? Unfortunately, they are late and the taxes for the year of death have already been submitted to CRA, and would require an adjustment to the amount of Social Security paid if the benefit payment were repaid.

Can the estate keep this payment? Are there any consequences to keeping the payment?

There seems to be some rules regarding erroneous payments.

https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202408610
https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202408900

[nelsona]

In my opinion, the SSA has the right to demand the repayment from the bank, and in turn, the bank has the right to demand the repayment from the estate. has the bank asked you for the funds?

The fact that the deceased taxes would need amending is immaterial.