SURVIVOR BENEFITS
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Social Security Benefits
The following checklist is designed to help you file for your
Social Security benefits correctly so that prompt payments may be made.
ELIGIBILITY
The deceased worker must have credit for work covered by Social Security,
ranging from 1 1/2 to 10 years depending on his or her age at death.
WHO MAY RECEIVE MONTHLY BENEFITS
A widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled), or at any age if caring
for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled.
A divorced widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled) if the marriage
lasted 10 years, or if caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled.
Unmarried children up to 18 (19 if they are attending a primary or secondary school full lime).
Children who were disabled before reaching 22, as long as they remained disabled.
Dependent parent or parents 62 or older.
LUMP-SUM DEATH PAYMENT
A one time payment of $255 is paid in addition to the monthly cash benefits described above.
The lump-sum death payment (LSDP) is paid in the following priority order:
A surviving spouse who lived in the same household as the deceased person at the time of death.
A surviving spouse eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death.
A child or children eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death.
APPLYING FOR BENEFITS
You must apply in order to receive benefits. You may apply at any Social
office or, if you wish, you may apply by telephone. Just dial the toll-free
number 1-800-772-1213 and the operator will schedule an appointment
for you or arrange for the local Social Security office to take your claim
by telephone.
SOCIAL SECURITY TELESERVICE - DOING BUSINESS BY TELEPHONE
You may call Social Security toll-free, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
The number to use is 1-800-772-1213. To speak with a representative,
call between the hours of 7:00am and 7:00pm on regular business days.
At other times and on weekends and holidays, you may leave a message
and they will call you back, in most cases, the next business day.
You may use the toll-free number to make an appointment either in a
Social Security office or telephone to apply for benefits, transact other
Social Security business, or just ask questions.
VETERANS BENEFITS
Reimbursement of Burial Expenses
VA will pay a burial allowance up to $1,500 if the veteran's death is service
connected. VA also will pay the cost of transporting the remains of a service-disabled
veteran to the national cemetery nearest the home of a deceased that has available
gravesites. In such cases, the person who bore the veteran's burial expenses may claim
reimbursement from VA. VA will pay a $300 burial and funeral expense allowance for
veterans who, at time of death, were entitled to receive pension or compensation or
would have been entitled to compensation but for receipt of military retirement pay.
Eligibility also is established when death occurs in a VA facility or a nursing home with
which VA contracted. Additional costs of transportation of the remains may be
reimbursed. There is no time limit for filing reimbursement claims of service-connected
deaths. In other deaths, claims must be filed within two years after permanent burial or cremation.
VA will pay a $150 plot allowance when the veteran is not buried in a cemetery
that is under U.S. Government jurisdiction if the veteran is discharged from active
duty because of disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty, if the veteran was
in receipt of compensation or pension or would have been in receipt of compensation
but for receipt of military retired pay, or if the veteran died while hospitalized by VA.
The plot allowance is not payable solely on wartime service.
If the veteran is buried without charge for the cost of a plot or interment in a state-owned
cemetery reserved solely for veteran burials, the $150 plot allowance may be paid to the
state. Burial expenses paid by the deceased's employer or a state agency will not be reimbursed.
Burial Flags
VA provides an American flag to drape the casket of a veteran and to a person entitled
to retired military pay. After the funeral service, the flag may be given to the next of kin
or a close associate. VA also will issue a flag on behalf of a service member who was
missing in action and later presumed dead. Flags are issued at VA regional offices,
national cemeteries, and post offices.
Burial in National Cemeteries / VA Cemeteries
Burial benefits in a VA national cemetery include the gravesite, opening and
closing of the grave, and perpetual care. Many national cemeteries have columbaria
for the inurnment of cremated remains or special gravesites for the burial of cremated
remains. Headstones and markers and their placement are provided at the government's expense.
Veterans and armed forces members who die on active duty are eligible for burial in
one of VA's 114 national cemeteries. An eligible veteran must have been discharged
or separated from active duty under honorable or general conditions and have
completed the required period of service. Persons entitled to retired pay as a result
of 20 years creditable service with a reserve component are eligible. A U.S. citizen
who served in the armed forces of a government allied with the United States in
a war also may be eligible.
Spouses and minor children of eligible veterans and of armed forces members also
may be buried in a national cemetery. A surviving spouse of an eligible veteran
who married a nonveteran, and whose remarriage was teminated by death or
divorce, is eligible for burial in a national cemetery.
Gravesites in national cemeteries cannot be reserved. Funeral directors or others
making burial arrangements must apply at the time of death. Reservations made
under previous programs are honored. The National Cemetery System normally
does not conduct burials on weekends. A weekend caller, however, will be
directed to on eof three strategically located VA cemetery offices that remain
open during weekends to schedule burials at the cemetery of the caller's choice
during the following week.
Headstones and Markers
VA provides headstones and markers for the unmarked graves of veterans anywhere
in the world and for eligible dependents of veterans buried in national, state veteran
or military cemeteries.
Flat bronze, flat granite, flat marble, upright granite and upright marble types are
available to mark the grave in a style consistent with the place of burial. Niche markers
also are available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains.
Headstones and markers are inscribed with the name of the deceased, the years of birth
and death, and branch of service. Optional items that also may be inscribed at VA
expense are: military grade, rank or rate; war service such as World War II; months
and days of birth and death; an emblem reflecting one's beliefs; valor awards;
and the Purple Heart. Additional items may be inscribed at private expense.
When burial is in a national, state veteran or military cemetery, the headstone marker
is ordered through the cemetery, inscription, shipping and placement can be obtained
from the cemetery.
When burial occurs in a cemetery other than a national, military post or state veterans
cemetery, the headstone marker must be applied for from VA. It is shipped at government
expense. VA, however, does not pay the cost of placing the headstone or marker on
the grave. To apply, you must complete VA form 40-1330 and forward it to Director,
Office of Memorial Programs (403A), National Cemetery System, Department of
Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420. Forms and assistance are available at
VA application you may call the Director, Office of Memorial Programs at 1-800-697-6947.
VA cannot issue a headstone or marker for a spouse or child buried in a private cemetery.
Twenty year reservists without active duty service are eligible for a headstone or marker,
if they are entitled to military retired pay at the time of death.
Headstones or Markers for Memorial Plots
To memorialize an eligible veteran whose remains are not available for burial, VA will
provide a plot and headstone or marker in a national cemetery. The headstone or
marker is the same as that used to identify a grave except that the mandatory phrase
"In Memory of" precedes the authorized inscription. The headstone or marker is available
to memorialize eligible veterans or deceased active-duty members whose remains
were not recovered or identified, were buried at sea, donated to science, or
cremated and scattered. The memorial marker may be provided for placement in a
cemetery other than a national cemetery. In such a case, VA supplies the marker
and pays the cost of shipping, but does not pay for the plot or the placement
of the marker. Only a relative recognized as the next of kin may apply for the benefit.
Presidential Memorial Certificates
The Presidential Memorial Certificate is a parchment certificate with a calligraphic
inscription expressing the nation's recognition of the veteran's service. The veteran's
name is inscribed and the certificate bears the signature of the President.
Certificates are issued in the name of honorably discharged, deceased veterans.
Eligible recipients include next of kin, other relatives and friends. The award of a
certificate to one eligible recipient does not preclude certificates to other eligible
recipients. The veteran may have died at any time in the past. The local VA regional
office generally originates the application for a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
The next of kin also may request a certificate. Requests should be accompanied
by a copy of a document such as a discharge to establish honorable service.
VA regional offices can assist in applying for certificates.
Offices Available for Assistance
Department of Veterans Affairs
1-800-827-1000
Headstone and Gravemarker Program
1-800-697-6947
8:00am to 4:30pm Eastern Time
Government Life Insurance Information
VA Insurance Center
1-800-669-8477
8:00am to 6:30pm Eastern Time
Railroad Retirement
Railroad Retirement Board Office
http://www.rrb.gov/field.html
Theatre Bldg., Ste 301
629 S. 4th Ave.
PO Box 3705
Louisville, KY 40201-3705
502/582-5208
Teachers Retirement
Kentucky Teacher Retirement
http://www.ktrs.state.ky.us/
479 Versailles Rd.
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone (502) 573-3266
Fax: (502) 573-6695
Toll free: (800) 618-1687
Tracking Down Insurance Policies:
When someone dies, family members often remember previous discussions
of life insurance, but can't find the policy or any record of it. Now, there's a
way to track down a lost or misplaced life insurance policy, FOR FREE. Write
to: Policy Search Dept. of the American Council of Life Insurance, 1001 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20004 (1-202-624-2000). Include as many details as
you know. The deceased's birth date, place of residence, and maiden name
(if appropriate), etc. The council will send this information to 150 insurance
companies to check if they issued a policy to such a person.
Contact the Veterans Service Officer for G.I. Insurance, 1-800-669-8477.
Notify other insurance companies or local agents on policies held on the deceased.
Check coverage of home, at place of employment, auto medical coverage,
union, health and accident, life insurance, credit accounts such as Wards and
Sears which might have death coverage, bank accounts, credit unions, etc.
Office of Federal Group Life Insurance:
4 East 24th St.,
New York, NY 10001
ask for Form FE6 Claim for Death Benefits.
