Support for Families After the Loss of a Veteran

Choose a helper. Ask a trusted relative or friend to sit with you during calls and keep notes.

Get death certificates. Ask the funeral director how to order certified copies and how many you may need.

Tell the funeral director about the veteran’s service. Ask about military funeral honors, a burial flag, a government headstone or marker, and cemetery options. Ask what is covered before agreeing to charges. VA benefits may cover some costs, but do not assume the whole funeral is free. VA burial information

Ask about a national cemetery before buying a burial package. The funeral director can help arrange this. The VA National Cemetery Scheduling Office is 800-535-1117. Schedule a burial

Report the death to VA at 800-827-1000. Ask about stopping payments and whether a surviving spouse may receive a payment for the month of death. Have the veteran’s name, Social Security number or VA file number, date of birth, and date of death ready. Report a death to VA

Ask before using benefit deposits received after the death. Contact the paying agency and bank to find out which payments must be returned and which you may keep. Keep enough money available for any required return.

Get free help with VA claims. Find a VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization representative, often called a VSO. Your county or state veterans office may help you find one. Accredited VSO help with VA claims is always free. Find an accredited helper

Call Social Security at 800-772-1213. Confirm that the death was reported. The funeral home usually reports it, but that does not replace asking about your survivor benefits. Ask about monthly payments, benefits for children, and the one-time death payment. Social Security survivor benefits

If your loved one received military retired pay, call DFAS at 800-321-1080. Report the death and ask about the Survivor Benefit Plan and any final retired pay owed. Military retired pay does not simply continue to a spouse. If another agency paid the retirement, contact that agency. Military retiree survivor information

Check health insurance now. Call the number on your insurance card. Ask whether coverage continues, what paperwork is needed, and whether there is a deadline to enroll in replacement coverage.

Contact life insurance companies and any employer or pension office. Ask for survivor claim forms and a written list of required documents.

Death certificate, including cause of death for VA claims when needed

Military discharge papers, usually called the DD214

Marriage certificate and any prior divorce or spouse death records requested

Your identification and birth information

Social Security numbers for you, the veteran, and children applying

VA benefit letters, disability rating decisions, and claim or appeal letters

Military retirement and Survivor Benefit Plan records, if available

Insurance policies and employer pension information

Funeral bills and receipts showing who paid

Income, savings, and medical expense records for income-based benefits

Bank information for your own benefit deposits

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, or DIC. This is a tax-free survivor payment. You may qualify if the death was connected to military service. Some spouses also qualify when the veteran had a total service-connected disability rating for a required period before death, even if the death had another cause. Marriage rules also apply. Ask for a review even if you are unsure whether the death was service related. DIC eligibility and application

Survivors Pension. This is monthly help for certain surviving spouses of wartime veterans who meet income and asset limits, service requirements, and marriage rules. The death does not have to be service related. Survivors Pension

Extra help if you need personal care or are housebound. Ask whether Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits could increase a Survivors Pension payment. Explain any help you need with bathing, dressing, eating, or staying safe. VA pension additions

Social Security survivor payments. Spouses may qualify starting at age 60, or age 50 with a qualifying disability. Some qualify earlier when caring for the deceased person’s child. Other rules apply. Ask Social Security how starting now versus later would affect your payment. Your own retirement benefit and survivor benefit are not simply added together. Who qualifies and payment options

Social Security one-time death payment. Some spouses or children qualify for $255. Ask about it separately from monthly benefits. Death payment information

Survivor Benefit Plan, or SBP. This may provide monthly military survivor payments if the retiree had coverage for you. It is separate from VA benefits. Ask DFAS to check coverage and help start the claim. SBP information

Unpaid VA benefits or a pending claim. Ask about money VA owed before the death, called accrued benefits. If a claim or appeal was still open, ask whether you can continue it through a process called substitution. Accrued benefits

Funeral and burial assistance. Ask whether VA has already issued an automatic burial payment and whether an application is needed for additional eligible costs. Keep receipts. Burial allowances

CHAMPVA health coverage. Certain survivors qualify when the veteran died from a service-connected condition or had a permanent and total service-connected disability rating at death. Other rules apply. You cannot receive CHAMPVA if you are eligible for TRICARE. CHAMPVA eligibility

TRICARE. If you already have military family coverage, ask your TRICARE contractor how to keep survivor coverage and update military eligibility records. TRICARE for survivors

Education and job training. Ask about Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance and the Fry Scholarship for you or eligible children. Each has different rules. VA family education benefits

Housing help. Some surviving spouses qualify for a VA-backed home loan. This is a loan benefit, not a free home or automatic mortgage payment. VA home loans for surviving spouses

State and county benefits. Ask your veterans office about property tax relief, emergency assistance, education help, and burial programs. Availability and eligibility vary by location.

Food, rent, utilities, and transportation. Call 211 and explain what you need. Ask about local programs while benefit claims are being processed. Find local help through 211

Monthly Social Security payments. Ask about an unmarried child under 18, a child age 18 or 19 attending elementary or high school full time, or an adult child whose disability began before age 22. Some adopted children, stepchildren, and grandchildren also qualify. Call Social Security: 800-772-1213. Eligibility

Monthly VA payments. Ask about DIC when the death was service related or the veteran met qualifying total-disability rules. Also ask about Survivors Pension for children of wartime veterans with limited income and assets. Child eligibility generally includes unmarried children under 18, or under 23 while attending an approved school. Tell VA about any child who became permanently unable to support themselves before age 18. Ask whether payment belongs on the surviving spouse’s claim or a separate child’s claim. Call VA: 800-827-1000, or use a free accredited VSO. DIC and pension

School or job training. Some children qualify for Dependents’ Educational Assistance, called DEA or Chapter 35, or the Fry Scholarship. Eligibility depends on the veteran’s disability, service, or circumstances of death. Call VA Education: 888-442-4551. Ask which program fits and how it affects other VA payments before choosing. Education benefits

Health coverage. Dependent children may qualify for CHAMPVA if the veteran died from a service-connected condition or had a permanent and total service-connected disability at death. Age and school rules apply; TRICARE eligibility rules out CHAMPVA. Call CHAMPVA: 800-733-8387. If already covered by TRICARE, call the number on the insurance card. CHAMPVA

Military survivor payments. If the veteran was a military retiree, ask whether the child was covered by the Survivor Benefit Plan. Call DFAS: 800-321-1080. SBP

Parents’ DIC. Biological, adoptive, or qualifying foster parents with income below VA’s limit may qualify when the death meets service-related rules. Call VA: 800-827-1000. Ask specifically for “Parents’ DIC.” Parent eligibility

Social Security for dependent parents. A parent age 62 or older who was financially supported by the veteran may qualify. Call Social Security: 800-772-1213. Parent eligibility

Insurance or retirement money. Contact each insurer, employer, or retirement plan to check whether you were named as a beneficiary. Being a relative alone does not establish eligibility.

Funeral costs you paid. Ask whether you qualify for a VA burial allowance. Keep itemized bills and proof of payment. Call VA: 800-827-1000. Burial assistance

Grief and practical support. Partners and family members can contact TAPS at 800-959-8277 for military loss support, or 211 for local assistance. TAPS and 211