Who Needs to Be Told, and What Benefits Might Help?
← Memorial Resources · By Rock Pifer · Last reviewed November 2026
In the days right after a death, the focus is on the person you lost, and on the service.
That's as it should be.
But in the weeks that follow, there are offices to call and benefits to ask about. Some of them can help with the cost of a funeral or memorial. Some of them simply need to know.
You don't have to do all of this in one day. Make a list, and take it one call at a time.
Social Security
If the person received Social Security, the Social Security Administration needs to know about the death. In most cases, the funeral home reports it for you. Ask them to be sure.
Social Security pays a one-time death payment of $255 to a surviving spouse who lived with the person, or in some cases to a surviving spouse or child who was getting benefits on the person's record.
It isn't a large amount. But it's there, and it's worth asking about. A surviving spouse or children may also qualify for monthly survivor benefits.
Contact Social Security as soon as you can.
If the Person Was a Veteran
Veterans who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable may be eligible for burial and memorial benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These can include:
Burial in a national cemetery, at no cost to the family
A government headstone, grave marker, or medallion
A United States burial flag
A Presidential Memorial Certificate, signed by the President
Burial allowances that repay part of the funeral and burial costs, in some cases
Military funeral honors, including the folding and presenting of the flag and the playing of Taps
You'll usually need the veteran's discharge papers, often called a DD-214. If you can't find them, the funeral home or a local veterans service officer can help you request a copy.
Tell the funeral director right away that the person served. They do this often and can help you ask for military honors.
Life Insurance
Look for any life insurance policies, including policies through an employer, a union, a bank, or a credit card. Some people have a small policy they've forgotten about.
Call each company and ask what they need to file a claim. Most will ask for a certified copy of the death certificate.
The Employer and Any Pension
If the person was working, contact their employer. Ask about a final paycheck, unused vacation pay, any life insurance through work, and retirement accounts.
If the person received a pension, the pension plan needs to know. Some pensions continue to a surviving spouse.
Banks, Bills, and Accounts
Banks, credit card companies, and lenders will need to be told. So will utilities, phone and internet providers, and any subscriptions.
Don't close a shared bank account in a hurry if the surviving spouse still needs it to pay bills. Ask the bank what makes sense.
And be careful. People who prey on grieving families sometimes call pretending to be from a bank or a government office. If someone calls asking for money or account numbers, hang up and call the office yourself, using a number you know is real.
Make One List
Get a notebook. Write down every call you make, who you talked to, the date, and what they told you.
It sounds simple, and it is.
But when you're tired and grieving, that notebook will remember what you can't.
Related Questions
Next step: What Do We Do After the Memorial Service?