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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 recieve 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 $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.
- 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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