|
|
Benefits
Social Security
Riverside Funeral Directors will notify Social Security by mail immediately
upon death.
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.
Who
may receive a Lump-Sum Death Payment:
-
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.
-
Unmarried children up to 18 (19 if they
are attending a primary or secondary school full time).
-
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. Riverside Funeral Directors will accompany you or
offer transportation if you are traveling alone that day.
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. Please be patient.
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.
Veterans Benefits
Survivors of any person who was an active or retired member of the military
at time of death, or an honorably discharged veteran, could be eligible for
a number of benefits, including:
-
An American flag (usually drapes the
casket) or presented to a family member (folded)
-
Burial in a National Cemetery if the
family wishes
-
A bronze or granite marker
-
A lump sum payment of $300.00 is usually
available to families of those veterans that were entitled to receive VA
compensation or pension at time of death (such as retirees), or veterans
who died while a registered patient in a VA hospital or other accredited
VA facility. If one of these circumstances apply and a National Cemetery
is not utilized, up to $150.00 could be reimbursed as a plot or
interment allowance (requires proof of payment to a non-VA cemetery.
Private cemeteries usually assist you by filing this benefit in your
behalf). For veterans who die of a service connected disability, the VA
could pay an allowance to reimburse funeral costs of $1500.00 or less
(no additional VA death benefits would be available). Active duty
military personnel are usually entitled to a greater amount, which can
vary.
-
If not remarried, the surviving spouse is
eligible for burial in the National Cemetery. Dependent children of the
veteran are also eligible.
-
Claims for Veteran's Benefits must be
filed within two years of death by the veteran's family, a non-family
member who can prove that the veteran's funeral services are paid, or
the funeral director. We will be pleased to make application for these
benefits on your behalf if you will provide us with the veteran's
Honorable Discharge papers. For VA Assistance and Information, phone
1-800-827-1000 or visit their website at
www.va.gov.
|
