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Social Security & Veterans Resources
A Guide to Your Social Security & Veterans BenefitsWhat are you entitled to? Follow this informative guide to determine which benefits you deserve.
Social Security Benefits
Who is eligible?The deceased worker must have credit for work covered by Social Security, ranging from 1 ½ to 10 years, depending on his or her age at death.
Who can receive monthly benefits?
You may receive monthly Social Security benefits if you are:
- A widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled), or at any age if caring fro 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).
- Dependent parent or parents 62 or older.
In addition to the monthly cash benefits described above, a one-time payment of $255 is paid. This 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.
You may apply at any Social Security office or by telephone between the hours of 7 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday at (800) 772-1213. Before calling, have the following information ready:
- Marriage Certificate
- Children's Birth Certificates
- Proof of Widow(er)'s age
- Spouse's Social Security number
- Previous year's W-2 or Schedule C
- Death Certificates
Veterans Benefits
Who is eligible?To be eligible you must be a veteran discharged or separated from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable, and have completed the required period of service. U.S. Armed Forces members who die on active duty are also eligible, as are spouses and dependent children of eligible living and deceased veterans, and of current and deceased armed forces members. Contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at (800) 827-1000 for more information.
How do you apply?
Veterans benefits are not paid automatically. It is your responsibility to contact the Veterans Administration. To ensure prompt handling of your claim, have the following information ready:
- Social Security number for yourself and your dependent children
- Certified copy of original DD214 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation)
- Certified copy of Death Certificate
- Verification of the life insurance amount you will receive as a result of the veterans death
- Paid receipts for hospital and doctor bills incurred by last illness, if applicable
- Paid receipts for funeral and cemetery expenses
- If either yourself or the veteran was previously married, provide a certified copy of the original divorce decree or death certificate proving the previous marriage was dissolved by divorce or death
- If there are dependent children, you will need an original birth certificate for each child under 18 or over 18 if full-time student
- If over 18 and still in school, you will need to fill out VA Form 21-674
- If you or the veteran receive Social Security Benefits, the exact amount must be reported
- If you already have a VA claim number, you must furnish the claim number you have been assigned
- If you or the veteran receive additional income, the source and exact amount must be reported
Those who qualify may be eligible to receive:
- Free burial and gravesite in a National Cemetery
- Free headstones or markers
- Free burial at sea
- Free Presidential Memorial Certificate
- Reimbursement of burial expenses
- Free United States burial flag
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