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Social Security
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 time).
- 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 $150.00 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 $1500.00 or less (no additional VA death benefits
would be available). Active duty military personnel are
usually entitled to a greater amount, which can vary.
- 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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