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
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.
At Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Services,
we are committed to providing you with the necessary
information that you need to make the important
decisions. Below please find information for veterans
and veterans’ families. The information
below details benefits, requirements, and guidelines
for services available to veterans.
Benefits
Benefits are available to veterans discharged
or separated from active duty under conditions
(other than dishonorable) who have completed the
required period of service, or U.S. Armed Forces
members who die during active duty. Spouses and
dependent children of eligible living and deceased
veterans, and of current and deceased armed forces
members, may also be eligible.
Burial Grave in a National Cemetery
The United States Government provides a free
burial in a National Cemetery to all those who
are eligible. This includes the grave-site, opening
and closing of the grave, and perpetual care.
Many national cemeteries have columbaria niches
for the inurnment of cremated remains or special
sections for burial of cremated remains, if cremation
is chosen as the final form of disposition.
Headstones and Markers
The United States Government provides headstones
and markers for the graves of Veterans and eligible
dependents anywhere in the world that are not
already marked. Flat bronze, flat granite, flat
marble and upright marble types are available
to mark.
United States Burial Flag
The United States Government provides an American
flag to drape the casket of a veteran who was
discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
After the funeral service, the flag may be given
to the next of kin or a close associate of the
deceased.
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