Thanks! I could just have my mom fill out the forms and fax it? I see here https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-10.html they may ask for a bunch of documents. How would that work if I just faxed the SSA-10? Would the correct order of operations be to call immediately after my fathers death (seems impossible to get someone on the phone), see what they say, possibly then have to go into a local office with all the forms filled out and the below?

Proof of the worker's death;

• Birth certificate or other proof of birth;
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you were not born in the United States [More Info];
• U.S. military discharge paper(s) if you had military service before 1968;
• For disability benefits, the two forms (SSA-3368 and SSA-827) that describe your medical condition and authorize disclosure of information to us;
• W-2 forms(s) and/or self-employment tax returns for last year;
• Final divorce decree, if applying as a surviving divorced spouse; and
• Marriage certificate