Links
Federal, State & Local Government
The Department of Veterans Affairs
The VA offers large amounts of information related to benefits for survivors. Listed below, you will find several of the most frequently searched for departments and allied organizations within the VA that may be useful to the survivor community.
| Center for Minority Veterans |
Department of Defense Links Military OneSource understands the needs of military family members who have lost a loved one. Surviving spouses, parents, and children can turn to Military OneSource for information, resources, and counseling support during their time of need. Help is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week by telephone or Internet. Services include: Additional Contact Information: • From Overseas – Telephone: 1-800-3429-6477
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DoD Casualty Affairs
Army Survivor Benefits
Army Casualty
1-800-626-3317
http://www.armycasualty.army.mil
Navy Survivor Benefits
Navy Casualty
1-800-368-3202
http://www.npc.navy.mil/CommandSupport/CasualtyAssistance
Marine Corps Survivor Benefits
Marine Corps Casualty
1-800-847-1597
https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/portal/page/portal/M_RA_HOME/MR/PERSONNEL/Casualty
Air Force Survivors Benefits
Air Force Casualty
1-800-433-0048
http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/library/casualty.asp
Coast Guard Survivor Benefits
http://www.uscg.mil/ppc/ras/sbp.asp
Other Agencies
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National Resource Directory: http://www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov This directory is an online partnership for wounded, ill, and injured service members, Veterans, their families, and families of the fallen, and those who support them. Casualty assistance is under the Family Support icon. |
Arlington National Cemetery:
1-703-607-8585
http://arlingtoncemetery.org
If you wish to have your loved one buried or interred at Arlington National Cemetery, you should ask your local funeral home to telephone the internment office and arrange for the interment service. This should be done while you are, or your representative is, in the funeral home.
Armed Forces Services Corporation (AFSC):
1-888-237-2872
http://www.afsc-usa.com
On behalf of the Service Relief Societies, the AFSC provides eligible family members with lifetime benefit and entitlement information and assistance at no cost. Their services include an analysis of available benefits, an annual benefits update, notification concerning changes to benefits or entitlements, insurance counseling, and other general assistance.
Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS):
1-800-321-1080
http://www.dod.mil/dfas/
DFAS provides professional finance and accounting services for members of the Uniformed Services and their dependents. Here you will find a wealth of information about military pay and benefits. Look under Retired Pay for information on Survivor Benefits.
Social Security Administration (SSA): Social Security benefits may be available to the spouse or children of deceased service members. The amount paid will be determined by the Social Security Administration.
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Internal Revenue Service (IRS): http://www.irs.gov Certain VA survivor benefits are tax exempt. To lear more, please visit IRS.gov
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National Archives: The National Archives are responsible for the stewardship of military service records of veterans that have previously served in our nations armed forces. Please visit the National Archives to obtain copies of your loved one's DD-214, DD-1300, and other important informaion.
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Non-governmental Organizations
*Note: The Department of Veterans Affairs cannot guarantee the accuracy of content provided by outside organizations, and advises that consumers utilize their own discretion when utilizing services found therein or when disclosing personal information. In addition, the following list is not representative of the entirety of service organizations working with the Survivor community. The presence of an agency on this list should not be interpreted as an endorsement by the Department of Veterans Affairs.*
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): TAPS is a nationwide not for profit organization that offers peer support and other services for surviving family members of deceased veterans and service members that pass while on active duty. For more information, please visit: www.TAPS.org
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Gold Star Wives of America: Gold Star Wives Of America, Inc. is an organization of military widows/widowers whose spouse died while on active duty or from service connected disabilities. GSW offers support and service opportunities to its membership. For more information, please visit: www.goldstarwives.org
American Gold Star Mothers: AGSM is an organization offering support and other services to mothers/parents that have lost a child in active military service or who passed from a service connected disability. For more information, please visit: www.goldstarmoms.com
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The American Widow Project: The American Widow Project is an online community offering support, information and a means to interact with other surviving military widows. For more information, please visit: www.americanwidowproject.org
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Veterans's Widow/ers International Network (VWIN): VWIN is a survivors advocacy group working on issues that relate specifically to survivors of deceased veterans. To learn more, please visit www.vetsurvivors.com
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National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO): NACVSO works to promote and protect the rights of veterans and their dependents through education, communication and technology. For more information, please visit: www.nacvso.org
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National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS): NAUS is an advocacy group working on issues related to active duty service members, veterans, their families and their survivors. To learn more about NAUS, please visit www.naus.org
Military Officers Association of America (MOAA): MOAA is an advocacy group working on issues related to active duty service members, veterans, their families, and their survivors. To learn more about MOAA, please visit www.moaa.org
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Disabled American Veterans (DAV): DAV is an advocacy group and community working on issues related to the disabled veteran community, their families and their survivors. In addition, DAV provides extensive services and opportunities to volunteer. To learn more, please visit www.dav.org
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American Legion: The American Legion is an advocacy group and community that offers services and volunteer opportunities. To learn more, please visit www.legion.org
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DRS Technologies Scholarships: College-bound children of National Guardsmen who lost their lives in support of the war on terrorism can now apply for up to $25,000 in scholarship funds from DRS Technologies, a New Jersey-based defense contractor. The Guardian Scholarship Fund will be administered by the National Guard Educational Foundation. The first awards will be made in time for the fall semester this year. Students will receive up to $6,250 per year for four years if they attend a four-year institution. For those attending a two-year program at a community college or technical school, the scholarship will provide up to $6,250 for both years. Qualified applicants can learn more and apply on line at http://www.ngef.org/index.asp?bid=300. A video about the program and an explanation of how to donate to the fund can be seen at http://www.drsfoundation.net/guard. More than 650 Guardsmen have died in the line of duty since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
*Note: The Department of Veterans Affairs cannot guarantee the accuracy of content provided by outside organizations, and advises that consumers utilize their own discretion when utilizing services found therein or when disclosing personal information.*
