Benefits Information
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 Security 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
Survivors of any person who was an active
or retired member of the military at time of death, or an
honorably discharged veteran, could be eligible for a number
of benefits, including:
- An American flag (usually drapes the casket).
- Burial in a National Cemetery.
- A bronze or granite marker.
- A lump sum payment of $300.00 is usually available
to families of those veterans that were entitled to receive
VA compensation or pension at time of death (such as retirees),
or veterans who died while a registered patient in a VA
hospital or other accredited VA facility. If one
of these circumstance's apply and a National Cemetery
is not utilized, up to $300.00 could be reimbursed as
a plot or interment allowance (requires proof of payment
to a non-VA cemetery. Private cemeteries usually assist
you by filing this benefit in your behalf). For veterans
who die of a service connected disability, the VA could
pay an allowance to reimburse funeral costs of $2000.00
or less (no additional VA death benefits would be available).
Active duty military personnel are usually entitled to
a greater amount, which can vary. This benefit is usually
paid by the Department of Defense.
- If not remarried, the surviving spouse is eligible
for burial in the National Cemetery. Dependent children
of the veteran are also eligible.
- Claims for Veteran's Benefits must be filed within
2 years of death by the veteran's family, a non-family
member who can prove that the veteran's funeral services
are paid, or the funeral director. We will be pleased
to make application for these benefits on your behalf
if you will provide us with the veteran's Honorable Discharge
papers. For VA Assistance and Information, phone 1-800-827-1000
or visit their website at www.va.gov
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