Do I claim my father's final SS check as my income?

[TaxedBeyondWords]

Father passed in Dec. 2018.  SSA deposited his final (December) SS check into his bank account (joint account with me).  For some reason, SSA erroneously rescinded the check a few days later (still in December).  I filed a claim; it was approved; the amount of that check was then deposited into my own (solo) account but not until this Feb. 2019.  Do I compute HIS 2018 taxes using, or not using, the final SS check amount?  Next year, when I do my own 2019 taxes, do I compute that final SS check amount as MY own income?  TYIA.  

[DDollar · Accepted solution]

If the amount was included on his SSA-1099, it will be reported on his final tax return, and you will have nothing to report.  If they did not include it on the 1099, you will have to report it on your tax return.  I'm guessing it was considered his and included on his 1099.  Otherwise they would have denied your claim.  You can determine if it was included on the 1099 by dividing the total cash benefit paid by 12 - if it equals the amount of the final payment it was included. 

[TaxedBeyondWords]

Thank you.  Unfortunately, SSA did not send an SSA-1099 to him, nor to me.  I do not know if the final check amount was included.  It appears that another call, and another long wait, to SSA, is in order.  Thanks much.