Got Trouble? We can help.

Death benefits

There are a variety of death benefits that may be available to eligible survivors of someone who has died. The onus is on the survivors to apply for these and demonstrate entitlement.

• Social Security assists the eligible survivors of an eligible beneficiary by making a single death benefit payment available to the spouse or dependent children, as well as ongoing monthly benefits. To learn more about the eligibility criteria, contact your local Social Security office.
• To find out about death benefits payable to eligible survivors of veterans, and to secure burial privileges in a national cemetery and a flag, contact your regional Veterans Affairs office.
• Survivors of government employees are often eligible for benefits.
• Depending on the length of time employed, Federal Government Railroad Retirement Board insurance may pay a death benefit to survivors of railroad employees -- retired or still working.
• Some states pay benefits to survivors of crime victims.
• Worker's compensation insurance may pay a death benefit.
• Survivors of a deceased employee should apply for any benefits made available by the employer; these might include accrued vacation pay, pension distributions, stock or stock option ownership and various forms of severance payments.
• Unions and fraternal organizations often have death benefits for members' survivors.
• Benefits might be forthcoming under the provisions of no-fault insurance for the survivors of someone killed in a car accident.
• Depending upon the circumstances of the death and the terms of the policy, life insurance benefits may be paid to a designated beneficiary.