The Credit Professional Winter 2018 Dec_2018_magazine | Page 15

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Social Security numbers
for you, your spouse, and
dependent children.
Military discharge papers,
required to apply for
veterans’ benefits. You can
obtain a copy by contacting
the National Archives at
866-272-6272 or online.
Birth certificates for
dependent children,
required to file for
benefits such as Social
Security payments.
Your marriage certificate,
which allows you to apply
for benefits related to
your status as the
surviving spouse.
The will, which allows you
to begin the process of
probate and claim
ownership of some assets.
Documents that prove
ownership of assets,
ranging from IRAs
(individual retirement
accounts) to savings
accounts to vehicles.
benefit to help cover burial
expenses. In addition, monthly
survivor’s benefit payments are
available to spouses age 60 or
older, disabled widows age 50
or older, or spouses who care
for children who are disabled
or younger than age 18.
be able to negotiate additional
compensation in the form
of workplace-related
benefits unrelated to
worker’s compensation.
Workers’ compensation
authorities, if applicable.
If your spouse’s death was
Funeral directors often handle
workplace-relate, you may
notification of Social Security,
be able to collect workers’
or you can contact the Social
compensation benefits.
Did you notify the
Security
Administration
directly
Contact your state’s Labor
right people to begin
at
800-772-1213.
More
infor-
Department of its equivalent
collecting benefits?
mation about death benefits
for more information.
for
both
surviving
and
divorced
Filing for benefits can help you
Pension administrators.
create the cash flow you need to spouses is available in the
“survivors”
section
of
the
If your spouse was retired and
deal with debts, pay ongoing
Social
Security
Administration
covered by an employer-based
expenses, or cope with the loss
web site.
pension plan, find out if you
of your spouse’s income. You
will continue to receive full or
may need to file for benefits
Your
spouse’s
current
partial payments.
with several companies or
employer.
If
your
spouse’s
government authorities,
employer offered workplace
Your spouse’s union or
including:
insurance policies, you may
professional organization.
be
able
to
claim
a
death
benefit.
Some unions or organizations
Insurance companies.
In
addition,
you
should
arrange
offer death benefits for
Expect to file a separate claim
to collect payment for any
members’ survivors. Also, if
with each company involved.
unused vacation or sick pay,
your spouse was receiving a
depending
on
the
company’s
union-based pension, check
Social Security. Assuming
policies.
Finally,
if
your
with the union to find out
your spouse was eligible for
spouse’s
death
was
related
if the pension will continue and
Social Security benefits, you
to the workplace, you may
the amount of your payments.
can claim a one-time death
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The Credit Professional
1 4
December 2018