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Good Cause Defined
1519.1 What does good cause mean?
“Good cause” means that you did not file the social security lump-sum death payment application within the time limit because of:
Circumstances beyond your control, such as extended illness, communication difficulties, etc.;
Incorrect or incomplete information given to you by us;
Your efforts to get the evidence to support the claim, not realizing you could file the application within the time limit and submit the supporting evidence later; or
Unusual or unavoidable circumstances that show that you could not reasonably be expected to have been aware of the need to file the application within a specified period.
1519.2 When is good cause NOT established?
Good cause is not established if:
You were informed that a social security application for the lump-sum death payment had to be filed within the initial two-year period; and
You did not file the application because of neglect, or because you did not then want to claim the lump-sum death payment.
According to the Social Security Administration – You can continue working and start receiving your retirement benefits. … You can get Social Security retirement benefits and work at the same time before your full retirement age. However your benefits will be reduced if you earn more than the yearly earnings limits. After you reach your full retirement age, SSA will recalculate your benefit amount to give you credit for any months you did not receive a benefit because of your earnings. They will send you a letter that explains any increase in your benefit amount.