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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.
In general, you are first eligible to sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B starting 3 months before you turn 65 and ending 3 months after you turn 65. Your state will automatically sign you up for Medicare (or if you need to sign up). Your Medicaid coverage will change after you’re eligible for Medicare.