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.
What is a VA Burial Allowance?
A VA burial allowance is a partial reimbursement
of an eligible veteran's burial and funeral costs.
When the cause of death is not service-related, the
reimbursement is generally described as two payments:
(1) a burial and funeral expense allowance, and (2)
a plot interment allowance.
Who Is Eligible?
You may be eligible for a VA burial allowance if:
- you paid for a veteran's burial or funeral AND
- you have not been reimbursed by another government
agency or some other source, such as the deceased
veteran's employer AND
- the veteran was discharged under conditions other
than dishonorable.
In addition, at least one of the following conditions
must be met:
- the veteran died because of a service-related
disability OR
- the veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation
at the time of death OR
- the veteran was entitled to receive VA pension
or compensation but decided not to reduce his/her
military retirement or disability pay OR
- the veteran died in a VA hospital or while in
a nursing home under VA contract, or while in an
approved state nursing home.
How Much Does VA Pay ?
Service-Related Death.
VA will pay up to $1,500 toward burial expenses for
deaths prior to September 10, 2001. For deaths on
or after September 11, 2001, VA will pay $2,000. If
the veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some
or all of the cost of moving the deceased may be reimbursed.
Nonservice-Related Death. VA will pay
up to $300 toward burial and funeral expenses, and
a $150 plot interment allowance for deaths prior to
December 1, 2001. The plot-interment allowance is
$300 for deaths on or after December 1, 2001. If the
death happened while the veteran was in a VA hospital
or under contracted nursing home care, some of all
of the costs for transporting the deceased’s
remains may be reimbursed.
How Can You Apply ?
You can apply by filling out VA Form 21-530, Application
for Burial Allowance. You should attach proof of the
veteran's military service (DD 214), a death certificate,
and copies of funeral and burial bills you have paid.
Related Benefits
- Burial in VA National Cemeteries
- Headstones and Markers
- Presidential Memorial Certificates
- Burial Flags
For more information please contact
the Kewaunee County Veterans Service Office at (920)
388-7198 E-mail: cvso@kewco.org
Visit the Wisconsin website at
http://www.wicvso.org
Visit the National Web Site At http://www.cem.va.gov
Compensation & Pension Service –
April 2002
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