Miscellaneous Rights and Benefits
There are other federal and state rights and benefits here to which eligible family members may be entitled. Please read the brief description of each right or benefit. If you think you may qualify for a benefit and are interested, ask your CAR for more information.
Commercial Insurance. For commercial insurance, you should contact the nearest representative or the home office of the company for settlement. Your CAR can advise you of any insurance allotments that were being deducted from the member’s pay.
Emergency Financial Assistance. The military Aid Societies, such as the Air Force Aid Society, the Army Emergency Relief, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, and the Coast Guard Foundation, offer qualifying family members financial assistance in the form of interest-free loans or grants during personal and family emergencies. Aid may be given for such purposes as food, rent, utilities, essential car repair, and certain medical and dental care. The assistance is temporary and based on immediate needs. The assistance is available through the AFAS section located in the Family Support Center (FSC) at most military bases. If there is no AFAS office near you, the AFAS has cross-servicing assistance agreements with the American Red Cross, Army Emergency Relief, and the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society. Ask your CAR for additional details, or contact the base FSC.
Legal Assistance. Eligible family members may need or wish to obtain legal advice and assistance in connection with settling the estate of the deceased member, making a new will for the surviving spouse, taxation questions, and other related legal matters. Your CAR and mortuary affairs representative, in the course of helping you, may put you in contact with a legal assistance officer who can counsel you in these matters. The legal assistance officer can help in preparing the initial income tax return but can only give preliminary advice on probate and settlement of the estate, court appearances, preparation of inheritance tax returns, or in regard to civilian employment and business matters. Since these matters are outside the scope of the Legal Assistance Program, it may be necessary for survivors to obtain the services of civilian counsel. If you are not acquainted with an attorney and want help in obtaining one, the legal assistance officer can refer you to such counsel through the local bar association. Government agencies, such as the VA, Social Security Administration, and the DFAS-DE Center will help you in processing your claims for benefits and entitlements. Such matters are expeditiously handled without resort to civilian counsel or expense to you. In case of factual disputes or conflicting claims, it might be wise to have civilian counsel.
Civil Service Job Preference. A surviving spouse may be eligible to receive a ten point veterans service preference for federal service employment if the deceased member served in wartime or in a peacetime campaign or expedition for which the member received a campaign badge or service medal. You can obtain information about this point preference and available Federal employment from a Federal Civil Service Personnel Office.
State Benefits. Many states have passed laws providing certain rights, benefits, and privileges to the surviving spouse and children of the deceased Service member. These benefits can include bonuses, educational assistance, employment opportunities, tax relief, and others. Seek further information on the laws pertaining to a particular state from local government officials, the nearest VA office, or from local veterans organizations, such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans.
Income Tax Benefits. You may wish to contact the nearest office of the Internal Revenue Service for information and guidance regarding your federal tax status. Excluded from gross income for income tax purposes are: Social Security benefits; the death gratuity; burial benefits; VA pension and compensation payments; property, including cash money received as a gift under will provisions; and face amount of all life insurance policies.
