Military Retiree Death Guide
Preparation for the Family

Edwin A. Balcerzak for LIFELines
December 8, 2007

When a retiree dies, the surviving spouse and/or children frequently find themselves in turmoil. Many are so overcome with grief, that they are immobilized and are unsure about what they should do in regard to the military retiree’s pay and benefits. This brief will address how this process may be made easier for the survivors.

No one likes to think about their death and we avoid thinking and doing any preparations while we are alive. Yet, preparations for what to do, and who to call after someone dies can be a great gift to the family and loved ones.

The lack of action by a family can result in delays in facilitating insurance claims that may be needed to handle funeral expenses, paying the last pay to the beneficiaries and starting the survivor benefit plan.

Often the lack of action is the result of a lack of knowledge or communication by the survivors about what to do and who to call. Prepare for the future today by taking steps to assist family members to manage the difficult months ahead and navigate through the maze of tasks that will need to be handled - military retired pay and benefits, financial and legal, and funeral/burial preferences. It is very important to communicate these things to your spouse, children, and/or beneficiaries.


A. Create a Military/Retired Pay Contact List -
One way to handle this difficult situation is to create a written or printed list of names and phone numbers that need to be contacted when a retiree dies and informing the spouse and family members what is on the list and where to find it.


Such a list should include:
DFAS, Retired and Annuity Pay Center 1-800-321-1080 to stop retired pay, apply for Survivor Benefits, and obtain information about insurance and other allotments.

Veterans Administration 1-800-827-1000 for Disability Pay and burial assistance and/or applying for Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for the surviving spouse.

Social Security Administration 1-800-772-1213 to discuss Social Security Survivor benefits

Office of Personnel Management 1-888-767-6738 for retirees who are receiving civil service pensions in addition to military retired pay.


B. Create a Financial/Legal Contact List - It is also advised to create a list of important contacts/property – bank accounts or financial data; insurance information – companies, account numbers, and contact information; location of the retiree’s will, estate plan, durable power of attorney for health care, and other important documents; location of safety deposit box and keys; and any other important items, etc.- so that survivors can have a road map to follow.

Some retiree’s are using a Trust instead of naming individual beneficiaries of their retired pay and or other assets. In such instances, retiree’s are advised to communicate with the Defense Finance Accounting Service (1-800-321-1080) about this fact as it may simplify the process of paying out the member’s last pay after his/her death. Beneficiaries may be entitled to the pay for the days that the retiree was alive and therefore would have been paid.


C. Create a Funeral Plan - In addition, a retiree may put their funeral ceremony and burial wishes in writing so that the family may proceed without creating divisiveness among family members. Pre-planning and pre-paying for funeral and burial can also make the process easier even if the grief is profound.

FORMS & GUIDES: The USAA Educational Foundation provides two booklets: A Guide for Your Survivors and When a Loved One Dies– Legal and Financial Concerns and also forms on their website in which to enter the information. Funeral directors may also provide booklets such as a Personal Arrangement Guide or similar guides in which all this information can be listed.

These tools can take a great burden off the survivors. Often the widow is so overcome with grief that she does not know where to start, is unable to make the phone calls, and fill out the proper forms, etc.

These information sources, and support, from family and friends, is very important to get through this difficult period, which can last a year or more.

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