The weeks after a veteran dies are some of the hardest a family will face, and the paperwork does not wait. Benefit payments need to be stopped or redirected, a burial must be planned, and survivors may have benefits to claim. VA says it wants survivors to "avoid debt from benefit overpayments," and that calling is the fastest way to report a death so payments stop. This guide lays out what families commonly handle in the first 30 days, with the official phone numbers, forms, and deadlines from VA, Social Security, and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS).
Key Takeaways
- Get several certified copies of the death certificate. USAGov says most agencies need one plus the person's Social Security number.
- Report the death to VA. VA lists phone, in-person, and mail options, and says phone is the fastest.
- Funeral homes usually report deaths to Social Security. A surviving spouse may qualify for a one-time $255 payment.
- Military retirees: call the DFAS Casualty Care Team at 1-800-321-1080 so retired pay is closed out and survivor benefits can start.
- VA burial benefits for a non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026 include up to $1,032 for burial and $1,032 for a plot; service-connected deaths can qualify for up to $2,000.
- For a service-connected death after service, a DIC claim received within 1 year of the death can be paid from the first day of the month of death.
Table of Contents
- Days 1 to 3: First Calls and Documents
- Reporting the Death to VA, Social Security, and DFAS
- Planning the Burial and Claiming Burial Benefits
- Survivor Benefits: DIC and More
- Days 10 to 30: Accounts, Insurance, and the Estate
- Ask the Navigator
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
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From the AVOY Book Library VA Survivor Benefits & Family Compensation Guide covers this in more depth, with step-by-step guidance. Get the Book → |
Days 1 to 3: First Calls and Documents
In the first few days, the focus is on the funeral home and gathering papers. Many of the later steps depend on two documents: the death certificate and the veteran's discharge papers.
Death certificates
USAGov says certified copies come from "the vital records office in the state where the death occurred," online, by mail, or in person. Costs vary by state. USAGov says certified copies are needed for tasks such as notifying Social Security and other government agencies and closing or transferring bank and credit card accounts. Some places may accept a photocopy for routine tasks, so ask each one.
Discharge papers (DD214)
VA's National Cemetery Scheduling Office asks for "the DD214 or other discharge documents of the Veteran or service member" to confirm eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery. If you cannot find the DD214, USAGov explains how to request military records.
Your first-month checklist
- Order several certified death certificates.
- Find the DD214, the will, and any trust papers.
- Report the death to VA.
- Confirm the funeral home will report the death to Social Security, or call SSA yourself.
- If the veteran was a military retiree, call DFAS.
- Schedule burial and ask about VA burial benefits.
- Report the death to the TSP and life insurance companies, if they apply.
- Gather what you need to apply for DIC and other survivor benefits.
Reporting the Death to VA, Social Security, and DFAS
Reporting quickly helps stop payments that would later have to be paid back, and it starts the survivor benefit process.
VA
VA says, "When you report a death, we'll stop any benefit payments the Veteran was receiving." VA lists three ways to report:
- By phone (fastest): call VA and select 5, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET (TTY: 711). The Navy's retiree guidance lists VA's number as 800-827-1000.
- In person: at a VA regional office.
- By mail: Department of Veterans Affairs, Claims Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444. VA notes mail takes longer to stop payments.
VA asks for the veteran's full name, Social Security number or VA claim number, date of birth, date of death, and branch of service, plus the death certificate and DD214 if available.
Social Security
Social Security says, "Funeral homes generally tell us when someone dies. So, you don't typically need to report a death to us." If no funeral home is involved, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). SSA's publication How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies says that if a benefit arrived by direct deposit, contact the bank and "ask them to return any funds received for the month of death or later." If it came by check, do not cash it; return it to SSA. A surviving spouse may receive a one-time payment of $255, which SSA says must be applied for "within 2 years" of the death.
DFAS (military retirees)
The Navy's official guidance on reporting a retiree's death says to call the DFAS Casualty Care Team at 1-800-321-1080 (overseas: 216-522-5955, option 3) with the retiree's Social Security number and date of death. "DFAS will begin to close out the pay account to prevent any overpayments." Within 7 to 10 business days, DFAS sends a condolence letter and, if it applies, Form SF 1174 (Claim for Unpaid Compensation) and an annuity package for Survivor Benefit Plan coverage. The same guidance lists DEERS at 800-538-9552.
Planning the Burial and Claiming Burial Benefits
VA offers burial in national cemeteries and money toward burial costs. Our guide VA Burial Benefits: What Families Can Claim goes deeper.
Scheduling a national cemetery burial
Call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET. Documents can be faxed to 866-900-6417 or emailed to NCA.Scheduling@va.gov. VA says the funeral director you choose can help with these steps.
Burial allowance amounts
VA's burial allowance page lists:
- Service-connected death: up to $2,000 if the veteran died on or after September 11, 2001 ($1,500 before that date).
- Non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026: up to $1,032 burial allowance and up to $1,032 plot allowance.
The application is VA Form 21P-530EZ. VA says a surviving spouse does not need to file "as long as you're listed as the Veteran's spouse on the Veteran's profile." For a non-service-connected death, VA says, "You must file a claim within 2 years after the Veteran's burial," with some exceptions. VA says there is no time limit if the death was service connected and you are claiming the burial or transportation allowance.
Survivor Benefits: DIC and More
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a monthly VA payment for eligible survivors. See VA DIC for Surviving Spouses and DIC vs. Survivors Pension.
Who may qualify
VA says a surviving spouse may qualify if the veteran died from a service-connected condition, or was rated totally disabled for at least 10 years before death, or since discharge and for at least 5 years immediately before death, or for at least 1 year if a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999. Marriage and living-together rules also apply.
How much and how to apply
VA lists the basic monthly DIC rate for a surviving spouse as $1,699.36, effective December 1, 2025. The application is VA Form 21P-534EZ, Application for DIC, Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits, which can be filed online.
Why timing matters
Federal regulation 38 CFR 3.400(c)(2) sets the DIC effective date for a service-connected death after service as the "first day of the month in which the veteran's death occurred if claim is received within 1 year after the date of death; otherwise, date of receipt of claim." Filing within the first year protects those back payments.
Days 10 to 30: Accounts, Insurance, and the Estate
Thrift Savings Plan
The TSP says anyone can report a participant's death online through its TSP Life Events Hub at lifeevents.tsp.gov. Questions go to the ThriftLine at 1-877-968-3778.
Other agencies and businesses
USAGov's list of who to notify includes the state motor vehicle office, the IRS, passport services, voter registration, and federal employee benefits, as well as banks, credit card companies, credit bureaus, and utilities.
The estate
If there is a will, the executor will need to start the state's probate process, if one is needed. In California, for example, the original will must be filed with the court within 30 days after the death, according to the Riverside County Superior Court.
Ask the Navigator
Just lost a veteran and not sure what to do next? Ask AVOY Veteran Navigator AI™ at avoyvet.com for help sorting out the next step, and take the free Veteran Legacy Checklist to keep track of every call and form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to report the death to Social Security myself?
Usually not. SSA says funeral homes generally report deaths. If no funeral home is involved, call 1-800-772-1213.
What happens if VA keeps paying after the death?
VA says reporting right away helps survivors avoid debt. Payments sent after a death may have to be repaid, so report quickly and ask VA before spending any payment that arrives after the death.
Is the VA burial allowance automatic for spouses?
VA says a surviving spouse does not need to file a claim if listed as the veteran's spouse on the veteran's VA profile.
How long do I have to apply for DIC?
For a service-connected death after service, 38 CFR 3.400(c)(2) says a claim received within 1 year of the death is effective from the first day of the month of death. Otherwise, the effective date is the date VA receives the claim.
Who do military retiree families call?
The DFAS Casualty Care Team at 1-800-321-1080, or 216-522-5955, option 3, from overseas.
Sources
- How to report the death of a Veteran to VA — VA.gov
- What to do when someone dies — Social Security Administration
- How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies — Social Security Administration
- Survivors Benefits — Social Security Administration
- How to Report a Retiree's Death — MyNavy HR
- Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits — VA.gov
- Schedule a burial for a Veteran or family member — VA.gov
- About VA DIC for spouses, dependents, and parents — VA.gov
- Current DIC rates for spouses and dependents — VA.gov
- About VA Form 21P-534EZ — VA.gov
- 38 CFR 3.400, General (effective dates) — eCFR
- Death and beneficiary support — The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
- How to get a death certificate — USAGov
- How to get copies of military records — USAGov
- Agencies to notify when someone dies — USAGov
- Decedent's Estates, Wills & Trusts — Superior Court of California, County of Riverside
Educational information only — not legal, tax, financial, or medical advice, and not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Estate and probate rules vary by state; an estate attorney in your state can confirm what applies. For VA benefits help, contact a VA-accredited VSO (often free), claims agent, or attorney.
