Monthly benefits will be paid to family members after your death if you have worked under Social Security long enough, generally 6 to 40 credits (1 1/2 to 10 years of work),depending on your age. Eligible family members include:

unmarried children under age 18, or 18 if in high school, or who are disabled before age 22

spouse (or divorced spouse) caring for your child under age 16 or who is disabled before age 22

disabled spouse (or disabled divorced spouse) at age 50

spouse (or divorced spouse) age 65 (age 60 for reduced benefits)

dependent parent(s) at age 62 or older

The benefits for a widow or widower caring for a non-disabled child stop when the child becomes age 16. The benefits do not start again until the widow or widower reaches age 60 (age 50 if disabled). During this "black-out" period, the need for professionally designed income protection is very great.

You must apply in order to receive any of these benefits. You may apply at any Social Security office or you may apply by telephone. The toll-free number is 1-800-772-1213.

Death benefits on insurance policies can easily be verified by calling most insurance companies. They will need to know the date of death, cause of death and will most likely require a certified copy of the death certificate before the claim can actually be paid.

To be eligible you must be a veteran discharged or separated from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable who has completed the required period of service, and U.S. Armed Forces members who die on active duty. Spouses and dependent children of eligible living and deceased veterans, and of current and deceased armed forces members, may also be eligible.

The surviving spouse of an eligible veteran who remarried a non-veteran prior to October 31, 1990, and whose remarriage was terminated by death or divorce prior to or on that date is eligible for burial in a national cemetery. A surviving spouse of an eligible veteran who remarried a non-veteran prior to October 31, 1990, and whose remarriage was intact on or after that date, however, is not eligible for burial in a national cemetery. A surviving spouse who remarries a non-veteran after October 31, 1990, is not eligible for burial in a national cemetery.

The U.S. Government provides free burial in a National Cemetery to all those eligible. This includes the gravesite, 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.

National Cemeteries

The U.S. Government provides headstones and markers for the graves of veterans and eligible dependents anywhere in the world which are not already marked. Flat bronze, flat granite, flat marble and upright marble types are available to mark the grave of a veteran or dependent in the style consistent with existing monuments at the place of burial. Bronze niche markers are also available to mark columbaria in national cemeteries used for inurnment of cremated remains.

Burial at sea is not just a tradition that was practiced by the Navy of old. It is a means of final disposition of cremains and intact remains that is offered to and still utilized by active duty, retired, and honorable veterans of all branches of the U.S. military. Burial at sea services are performed while the vessel is on official maneuvers. Therefore, it is impossible for the family to be present. The family will be notified by the commanding officer of that vessel for the date, time, longitude and latitude of the committal service.

Deceased individuals eligible for this program are members of the uniformed services, veterans discharged under honorable conditions, U.S. civilian marine personnel of the Military Sealift Command, and dependents of members, retirees and veterans of the uniformed services.

This parchment certificate will have a calligraphic inscription expressing the nation's grateful recognition of the veteran's service. The veteran's name is inscribed and the certificate bears the signature of the President and the presidential seal in gold foil.

The U.S. Government provides a $300 burial and funeral expense allowance for veterans who, at the time of death, were entitled to receive pension or compensation or would have been entitled to compensation but for receipt of military retirement pay. Eligibility is also established when death occurs in a Veterans Administration facility or a nursing home which the Veterans Administration contracted, and additional costs of transportation of the remains may be reimbursed in those cases. Claims must be filed within two years after permanent burial or cremation.

The U.S. 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.

National Toll Free Service 1-800-827-1000