first things first

Parting Guide

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Step 1

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The funeral is over, and you gave tribute to the life of someone that meant a lot to you. I know you feel overwhelmed with emotions & frankly ready to put this all behind you. 

Let's start...one step at a time to allow your loved one to rest in peace and you to properly grieve and heal. 

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Lesson 1: First Steps

“Grief is like the ocean; it comes In waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.” 

- Vicki Harrison.

First, don't forget that...

Your funeral home will handle the filing of necessary documents with the state to obtain a death certificate. You can choose to have the certificate either delivered to you or picked up from the funeral home, which you can confirm with your director.

If you require additional copies, you may order them from the vital records department in the county where the death occurred.

If your family has not received this benefit, contact the Social Security office directly.
1-800-772-1213

The deceased’s spouse will receive a closing benefit of $255. If there is no surviving spouse, the death benefit will go to their children

To obtain a death certificate, the funeral home handling arrangements has already notified the Social Security Administration to close the account of the deceased.

And What you need to know...

Social security

segment one

Insurance

  • One of the biggest challenges in claiming life insurance policies is ensuring you are aware of every policy your loved one owned.

  • The best places to look for existing policies are through family filing cabinets and safe deposit boxes. If unable to locate, look through bank records to see if there were outgoing monthly charges to a life insurance company as well as old tax returns. 

Life Insurance

segment Two

LEt's Make sure you're taken care of

You may also reach out to your state’s unclaimed property office at the link provided here.


You can use a 3rd party company to help you locate life insurance benefits. Find a web search here.

There are two routes you can go in order to retrieve this vital information. 

If all else fails...

Yes, I need that

let's go search

After your loved one passes on, your own health insurance may seem up in the air. Let's talk through these 3 scenarios to make sure you're covered. 



There are surviving family members who are still listed as dependents on the deceased's health insurance who will need Cobra to remain insured.


Your loved one was insured through Medicare. 


Your loved one was insured through the Affordable Care Act. 


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Health Insurance

segment three

COBRA is a temporary insurance that maintains the same coverage but typically at a slightly higher rate

COBRA is not a permanent solution. Families can only use COBRA for a certain time frame, typically between 12 and 24 months 

COBRA must be set up 30 days following the death of your loved one

If you are insured under the deceased's policy, you may be eligible to remain on their policy for a limited time through a program called Cobra.  


  1. If your loved one was insured through Medicare/Medicaid
       
        Contact their office at 1-800-772-1213

  • You will need the deceased’s Social Security number, Name, and date of birth to close the account




       2. If insured through the Affordable Care Act
         Contact their office directly at
          1-800-318-2596.

  • From here, you can cancel or modify the health insurance plan accordingly

The passing of a loved one is considered a QLE (Qualifying Life Event) and allows you to change the plan immediately without needing to wait for open enrollment



    2.  

Medicare and the Affordable Care Act

If your loved one was on medicaid, medicare or the affordable care act proceed below: 

Home-Owners Insurance


If the home of the deceased is still inhabited by their spouse/domestic partner, and/or children, and other surviving family members, it is important that the home remain insured. Not only from costly home mishaps but also for a smooth transition if the home needs to be sold. 

If the spouse/domestic partner is on the homeowner insurance policy, contact the insurance company, alert them of the passing, and provide them with a death certificate within 30 days of their passing.
Discuss coverage options in this scenario, if the co-tenant is listed on the insurance, they may be able to keep the policy with existing premiums being met. 

If that is not possible, they should have other insurance options to ensure the home does not fall out of protection.

Probate can add another wrinkle depending on your specific state policies.

occupied but not in the occupier's name, the executor can oftentimes have the policy transferred. 

If the home will be vacant for any period, that requires a different type of insurance called, “Vacant Home Insurance.” Contact the insurance company for more direction.

When property ownership is being transferred to a beneficiary, they will need to contact the insurance company and supply them with a death certificate as well as the name of the new insured and any additional insured for current residences (if different than the beneficiary) of the home.

If the home is

Veteran Benefits

Veteran benefits range widely depending on the circumstances of the passing of each honorably discharged veteran with a DD214. If you cannot locate your loved one’s DD214, you may receive a copy and learn what you qualify for from the links below. 

Veteran Benefits

SEGMENT FOUR

Discover Qualifications

DD 241 Document

Veteran Benefit Links

Each honorably discharged veteran is allowed to utilize the national cemetery with their spouse and any dependents under 18 or who have special needs.

These benefits include:

  • Plots
  • Opening and closing
  • Vaults
  • Marker
  • Flag
  • Graveside service



Family Benefits

If Using A Public Cemetery Your Family Still Receives A Flag And Marker



UNIONS & ORGANIZATIONS

Labor Unions

SEGMENT FIVE

Families of deceased employees of labor unions, in most circumstances, are entitled to additional death benefits

  • Oftentimes, labor unions pay out death benefits for members employed at the time of death. This benefit can range from $3,000 - $15,000
  • The death benefit beneficiary simply needs to contact the union to claim 
  • If the death was accidental, the family is often entitled to additional compensation. This benefit is typically time-sensitive and needs to be filed within 90 days of passing

Retired Employee of a Labor Union

IF YOUR LOVED ONE WAS A 

Survivor Health Benefits

WHAT ARE YOUR

  • Death benefits for retired employees typically range from $1,000 - $3,000
  • To collect, a designated beneficiary can reach out directly to the union
  • if there was no designated beneficiary, the next of kin must submit a death certificate

To maintain health insurance for survivors of deceased union employees, the survivors must have been enrolled in the plan during the time of passing.

The deceased’s plan must have been in good standing at the time of death and the package must have specifically included the death benefit.

If all requirements are met, the family can continue with the plan for an additional 12 months at no additional cost
After 12 months they may apply for COBRA

(visit this page for more info on COBRA)

  • Fraternal organizations will oftentimes come to the aid of their members when needed. 
  • Emergency Relief fund
  • Most members’ families will qualify for relief if the member was in good standing at the time of passing. Typically, no more than $1,000
  • Contact the local chapter and inquire

Fraternal Organizations

All About

Knights of Columbus

Knights of Columbus have their own form of life insurance and death funds

  • Life insurance will work just like traditional insurance
  • They have an accidental death benefit that can reach $2,500
  • The benefit is reduced when a member turns 65
  • If member's children become orphaned, KOC will pay the orphan $80 a month until they turn 19
  • They may also qualify for an education grant and if they attend Catholic colleges, have their tuition paid
  • Securing benefits requires a death certificate and proof the deceased was in good standing at the time of passing. Simply contact your local chapter Local chapter phone number and address.

Reach out to the deceased’s employer. You will most likely need to submit a form and include a death certificate.

SEcuring Benefits

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act requires private pension plans to provide a pension to a worker's surviving spouse if the employee earned the benefit. It can only be given up with the surviving spouse's written permission. 

Pensions for Private Companies

Pension

segment six 

02. 

01.

Applying for death benefits for civil servants

Civil Servent Pension

All applicants (beneficiaries) will need to submit form SF2800. You can find it at this link as well as all necessary instructions on how to complete it. 

If the deceased was employed at the time of passing, you will need to fill out an additional form SF2800 A. To attain this form, reach out to their specific agency and make a request
If there is a need for any additional information, reach out to The Office of Personnel Management.

You can contact them directly at 1-888-767-6738 or visit their website retire@opm.gov 

Submit a death certificate with any forms submitted to this address.

Get The form here

U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Retirement Operations Center
P.O. Box 45
Boyers, PA 16017-0045

submit to this address:

In this section, you will go through every necessary step to handling the personal finances of your loved one and settling the issues of the estate that the will and legal operations do not cover themselves. 

Head to STep 2 - Focus on finances