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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 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.
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VETERAN'S 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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