Sample Letter – Asking for a debt write-off when someone is deceased. You'll need the person's Social Security number and certified copies of their death certificate for most agencies and programs.Social Security and Medicare. To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account. Draft a notification letter. Utilize SCDCA's sample letter for notifying the credit bureaus of the death or draft a letter containing the following information:. Where possible, review the deceased customer's deposit and credit accounts. Call each card issuer and ask to speak with "Deceased Account Services" or the "Estate Unit. Cancel benefits payments and close or transfer accounts. Government agencies and programs to notify of a death.