Benefits Information
Veterans Benefits
The following benefits are available to an honorably discharged U.S. Veteran:
- A burial allowance of up to $300 will be paid to the funeral home if the veteran was receiving V.A. compensation, pension or was properly hospitalized by the Veteran's Administration.
- A cemetery space in a federally operated cemetery.
- A $150 burial plot allowance is payable if the deceased veteran was discharged for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, in receipt of compensation or pension at the time of death, was properly hospitalized by the V.A. or was buried in a state cemetery if the plot has not been paid for. If the plot has been paid for, the allowance will be paid to the funeral home.
- A flag for the funeral services.
- A government grave marker where there is no family marker.
- Transportation costs, if the veteran died in a V.A. facility.
- A burial allowance of up to $1500.00 when death was due to a service connected disability.
Under some circumstances there are survivors' benefits for spouses and minor children.
Social Security
Upon the death of an insured worker (those who have paid into Social Security for 6 Quarters), a lump sum benefit of $255 will be paid to a surviving spouse living in the same household. If there is no spouse who qualifies, the lump sum benefit may be paid to qualifying dependent children.
We send a statement of death to the local Social Security office as soon as we have the deceased's Social Security number. Most applications can be completed over the phone or through the mail so we strongly recommend the next-of-kin or their agent call the Social Security office within two weeks of the date of death. Application must be made within two years of the date of the death of the insured worker. When all of the records have been assembled by Social Security they will be able to appraise you of what other benefits are available.
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 for a period 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 to:
- 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.
Legal & Insurance Information Legal Information/Probating a Will
Perhaps one of the most important tasks you now face is the disposition of a loved one's estate. Whether or not the deceased had a will can make a greater difference in the time and effort involved in the proper disposition. It is suggested that you obtain legal advice on the array of different matters such as the disbursement or conversion of assets, changing of property deeds and titles, the disposition of bank accounts, stocks and bonds, and the disposition of business assets.
If you do not have an attorney, now is a good time to find one. The best methods of finding an attorney are through friends and relatives or by calling your local bar association.
If your loved one had a will, it will need to be probated. Probate is the legal procedure for the orderly distribution of estates. In most cases, probating a will is a simple process. Only in the instances where the will is being contested or the deceased had numerous holdings will the action be more complex. There is usually a specific time within which a will must be probated, so it is important to check carefully.
If there is no will, the estate will be disposed of according to the state laws governing descent and distribution.
Preparation and or review of your own will is also an important consideration at this time. It is the best way to assure that your estate is handled according to your desires.
Please email info@mangumfuneralhome.com and we will provide you with contact information for county and federal offices you may need to contact to settle the estate.
Life Insurance Information
Traditionally, life insurance companies require only two forms to establish proof for a claim; (1) a statement of claim, and (2) a certified copy of a death certificate. Please remember that this is a general statement. Your insurance companies reserve the right to request further information or proof that they deem necessary.
When filing a claim form, you should have available the following information:
- The policy number(s) and the face amount
- The full name and address of the deceased
- His or Her occupation and the last date worked
- His or her date and place of birth and the source of the birth information
- Date, place, and cause of death
- Claimant's name, age, address, Social Security Number, and date of birth
Financial and Credit Obligations
You will want to gather all the bills together and make sure you are aware of all the credit obligations of the deceased. Many installment loans, service contracts, and credit cards accounts are covered by credit life insurance, which pays off the account balance in the event of the death of a customer.
You should contact any financial institution where the deceased had a loan, and inform them of the death. They will be able to inform you if the loan was covered by credit life, and what needs to be done to file the appropriate claim. A certified copy of the death certificate is often required to file a claim.
You will also want to contact credit card companies to notify them of the death. If the card is jointly held, find out what documentation is required to change cards into the survivor's name. Ask the credit bureau to assist you in transferring your loved one's credit into your name. They may be able to assist you in determining any outstanding obligations of the deceased.
Make a prompt request for the release from each bank in which the deceased and you held a joint account. This is necessary before you can withdraw funds from that account. A bank will usually stop payment on all checks as soon as a death notice is published. The bank must also have the account cleared by the state tax authorities.
Living Will Information
Today there are more issues than ever before regarding "death with dignity" or "the right to die." Advances in medical and scientific techniques have found ways to keep people alive by way of machines. As a result, more and more people are concerned with issues regarding the "quality of life."
On June 25, 1990, the Supreme Court ruled in the Nancy Cruzan case that Americans do have the constitutional "right to die," and indicated that a Living Will or Durable Power of Attorney may be the best way to protect that right. Issues concerning measures to sustain life and the quality of life are very personal, and it is recommended that you discuss these issues with your family.
Today most states have Living Will statutes, specifying documents, which anyone can copy, and sign according to state law.
You may obtain additional information in regard to your state, or about this issue, by contacting us at info@mangumfuneralhome.com