A.)  To limit your liability as an RDFI, post death payments should be returned to SSA. The co-owner of the account may be the designated beneficiary and entitled to the funds but SSA should be the entity to confirm that and distribute dollars owed. If the payment is not returned and SSA sends a reclamation, the RDFI could be liable for the 45 day period (should SSA be unable to collect the funds from the wife). If you decide to release the funds, it should be considered a business decision made outside of the Green Book Rules (Section 5, Reclamations). Additional information is also included in TCHPA’s Federal Government Benefit Payments on-demand webinar.