While nothing can take away your pain following the death of a loved one, having your financial and legal affairs in order can provide some peace of mind during this difficult time. Military OneSource offers tools and services to simplify and ease your burden.
-
MilLife Topics
- Military Basics
- Deployment
- Transitioning & Retiring
- Casualty Assistance
- Moving & PCS
- Housing & Living
- Recreation, Travel & Shopping
- Relationships
- Parenting
- Special Needs
- Health & Wellness
- Safety From Violence & Abuse
- Financial & Legal
- Education & Employment
- I am a…
- Benefits & Resources
- Benefits
- Back to Menu
- View Benefits Finder
- View Benefits Finder
- Moving
- Military OneSource Services
- Planning & Prevention
- Discounts & Perks
- Pay & Leave
- Education & Employment
- Recreation
- Family & Child Care
- Relationships
- Health Care & Emotional Well-being
- Retirement
- Assistance Programs
- Housing
- Shopping
- Legal
- Travel
- Popular Benefits
- MilTax
- Space-A Travel
- DOD MWR Libraries
- Resources
- Back to Menu
- View Resources Finder
- View Resources Finder
- MilLife Guides
- Military OneSource Network Websites
- Podcasts
- Government Websites
- Webinars
- External Websites
- Directories & Tools
- Online Learning
- Mobile Apps
- Popular Resources
- MilitaryINSTALLATIONS
- Plan My Move
- Moving Personal Property
- DPS Login
- Other Resources
- Data, Research & Statistics
- Products
- Back to Menu
- View Products Finder
- View Products Finder
- Popular Product Types
- Books and Booklets
- Fact Sheets
- Brochures and Cards
- Flyers
- Educational Items
- Posters and Banners
- Popular Products
- Skills for Coping With Change Book
- Healthy Tips to Get Your Family Cooking Book
- Emergency Preparedness Guide
- Chill Drills 2 – Releasing Stress
- Confidential Help
24/7/365 Access to Support
No matter where you serve or live, free and confidential help is available.
- In Crisis?
- Veterans/Military Crisis Line
- Back to Menu
- Veterans/Military Crisis Line
- PhoneLive ChatInternationalWebsite
Dial 988 then press 1 or text 838255
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- Back to Menu
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- PhoneLive ChatText
Call 800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text “START” to 88788
- DOD Safe Helpline - Sexual Assault Support
- Back to Menu
- DOD Safe Helpline - Sexual Assault Support
- PhoneLive ChatWebsite
Call 877-995-5247
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Back to Menu
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- PhoneLive ChatTTY
Call 988
Use your preferred relay service, or dial 711 then 988
- Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Locator - Family Advocacy Program
- Back to Menu
- Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Locator - Family Advocacy Program
- Interactive Tool
In the United States, call 911 if you are in an emergency.
For those outside the United States, call your local emergency number.
- 800-342-9647
- Call Us OCONUS
- Call Us TTY/TDD
- Live Chat
- About Us
- Browse By Program/Office
- Casualty & Mortuary Affairs
- Child & Youth Advocacy
- Child & Youth Programs
- Commissary, Military Exchange & Lodging
- Family Advocacy Program
- Military Community Support Programs
- Military & Family Life Counseling
- Military Family Readiness Programs
- Military Funeral Honors
- Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR)
- Office of Special Needs
- Personnel Accountability & Evacuations Operations
- Spouse Education & Career Opportunities
-
Contact Military OneSource
Information and support for service members and their families. About the Call Center.
- 800-342-9647
- Call Us OCONUS
- Call Us TTY/TDD
- Additional Ways to Contact Us
MilLife GuidesSurvivor Finances and Legal Affairs
Overview
Understand the probate process
When a loved one dies, you may go through a court proceeding called probate — the legal process during which a person’s final debts are settled and legal title to property is passed from the deceased to heirs. Since the probate process can be overwhelming, it may help to remember these steps:
- The probate hearing
- Collection and inventory of assets
- Review and payments of bills, taxes, expenses and creditors
- Formal transfer of remaining estate property
Figure out your financial and legal affairs
Getting your financial and legal affairs in order can provide some peace of mind during this difficult time.
Tax forgiveness
Taxes might not be on your list of things to think about following the death of a loved one. But they may be entitled to certain benefits — including tax forgiveness.
Any final bills, debts, taxes or claims against the deceased are reviewed for their validity and then paid with funds from the estate. You are not personally responsible for paying these expenses, even if estate funds are not available.
Claim your Social Security benefits
A critical step in organizing your finances after a death is understanding your Social Security benefits. Several of the benefits paid out to families of deceased service members are tax-free. These include Social Security benefits, death gratuities, burial benefits and Department of Veterans Affairs pension and compensation payments.
In addition to the Social Security lump-sum death payment, there are other monthly benefits available to eligible surviving family members. Visit Social Security Administration Survivors Benefits for details.
Identify your insurance and survivor benefit payments
As a survivor, you may be entitled to receive Survivor Benefit Plan payments. The amount you receive is based on the number of active-duty service years your service member had at the time of their death. You may want to know about Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance, for which a service member may have paid premiums from their monthly income.
Tools and resources for survivor benefit payments
Benefits for SurvivorsChanges to the eligibility verification for SBP annuitants
The Defense Finance Accounting Service simplified the eligibility verification requirements and forms in August 2023. Now, Survivor Benefit Plan annuitants will only need one eligibility verification each year.
TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR SURVIVOR FINANCES AND LEGAL AFFAIRSPRODUCTS FOR SURVIVOR FINANCES AND LEGAL AFFAIRS
Plan your finances
Interactive OSBR Info Temporarily Unavailable
The interactive online survivor benefits report, or OSBR, will be unavailable to users until mid-December. Survivors will be directed to the Family Assistance Support Team for an updated OSBR during this time. The initial OSBR will not be affected.
Mapping your financial future can be a puzzle when you’re trying to figure out benefits. Be sure to use the interactive Online Survivor Benefits Report to view current and estimated future benefits and to get help with creating savings and spending plans.
The online survivor benefits report is an interactive financial planning tool available to eligible surviving spouses, guardians of dependent children and adult children. This report helps you make sound decisions by estimating how time and circumstances can affect your monthly and annual income.
Call the OSBR Family Assistance Support Team
If you need assistance accessing your report or have questions about your benefits, direct inquiries to the OSBR Family Assistance Support Team at 877-827-2471.
BENEFITS & MILITARY ONESOURCE SERVICES TO PLAN YOUR FINANCESFeatured MilLife Guides
Learn about military bases worldwide. Get installation overviews, check-in procedures, housing, neighborhood information, contacts for programs and services, photos and more.
Your session will expire in 5 minutes.Click "Extend" below to stay logged in.
This site is for testing purposes only.If you are part of the general public, navigate to the public site. This site is solely for testing and approving site pages before they are released to the general public.