August 2003 Newsletter, Disabled American Veterans, Department of New York

Disabled American Veterans Department of New York, 200 Atlantic Avenue, Lynbrook, New York 11563

NEWSLETTER
A Publication for Members of the Disabled American Veterans Dept. of NY
August 2003

SSA Death Benefit Lump-Sum
Sidney Siller, Department Adjutant

When applying for the $255 lump-sum death benefit, be prepared to answer the following questions and have as many of the needed documents as possible. You should not delay filing your claim just because you do not have all the documents. SSA will help you get them. You will be asked for the following:

Your name and social security number;

The deceased worker's name, gender, date of birth and social security number;

The deceased worker's date and place of death;

Whether the deceased worker ever filed for Social Security benefits, Medicare or Supplemental Security Income (if so, SSA will also ask for information on whose Social Security record he or she applied);

Whether the deceased worker was unable to work because of illnesses, injuries or conditions at any time during the 14 months before his or her death (if "Yes," they will also ask when he or she became unable to work)

Whether the deceased worker was ever in the active military service (if "Yes," they will also ask for the dates of his or her service)

Whether the deceased worker worked for the railroad industry for 7 years or more;

Whether the deceased worker earned social security credits under another country's social security system;

The names, dates of birth (or age) and social security numbers (if known) of any of the deceased worker's former spouses and the dates of the marriages and how and when they ended;

The names of any of the deceased worker's unmarried children under 18, 18 to 19 and in secondary school or disabled prior to age 22;

The amount of the deceased worker's earnings in the year of death and the preceding year;

Whether the deceased worker had a parent who was dependent on the worker for ½ of his or her support at the time of the worker's death; and

Whether the deceased worker and surviving spouse were living together at the time of death.

If you are the surviving spouse, you will also be asked:

Whether you have been unable to work because of illnesses, injuries or conditions at any time within the past 14 months (if "Yes," they will also ask when you became unable to work);
Whether you or anyone else ever filed for Social Security benefits, Medicare or Supplemental Security Income on your behalf (if so, we will also ask for information on whose Social Security record you applied); and
The names, dates of birth (or age) and social security numbers (if known) of any of your former spouses and the dates of the marriages and how and when they ended.

If you are not the surviving spouse, they will also ask for the surviving spouse's name and address. You also should bring certified copies as applicable of the death certificate, marriage contracts, birth certificates, and your checkbook or other papers that show your account number at a bank, credit union or other financial institution to sign up for Direct Deposit. [Source: http://www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-8.html MAY 2003]

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