The following checklist is designed to help you file for your Social Security benefits correctly so that prompt payments may be made.
The deceased worker must have credit for work covered by Social Security, ranging from 1 1/2 to 10 years depending on his or her age at death.
A widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled), or at any age if caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled.
A divorced widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled) if the marriage lasted 10 years, or if caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled.
Unmarried children up to 18 (19 if they are attending a primary or secondary school full lime).
Children who were disabled before reaching 22, as long as they remained disabled.
Dependent parent or parents 62 or older.
A one time payment of $255 is paid in addition to the monthly cash benefits described above. The lump-sum death payment (LSDP) is paid in the following priority order:
A surviving spouse who lived in the same household as the deceased person at the time of death.
A surviving spouse eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death.
A child or children eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death.
You must apply in order to receive benefits. You may apply at any Social Security office or, if you wish, you may apply by telephone. Just dial the toll-free number 1-800-772-1213 and the operator will schedule an appointment for you or arrange for the local Social Security office to take your claim by telephone.
You may call Social Security toll-free, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. The number to use is 1-800-772-1213. To speak with a representative, call between the hours of 7:00am and 7:00pm on regular business days. At other times and on weekends and holidays, you may leave a message and they will call you back, in most cases, the next business day.
You may use the toll-free number to make an appointment either in a Social Security office or telephone to apply for benefits, transact other Social Security business, or just ask questions.
Survivors of any person who was an active or retired member of the military at time of death, or an honorably discharged veteran, could be eligible for a number of benefits, including:
It's important to recognize that funerals and memorial ceremonies are for the living ... for those who are affected by the loss of a loved one. It is through the funeral process that a number of emotional needs are met for those who grieve.
A funeral is similar to other ceremonies in our lives. Like a graduation ceremony, a wedding, a baptism, and a bar mitzvah, a funeral is a rite of passage by which we recognize an important event that distinguishes our lives.
The funeral declares that a death has occurred. It celebrates the life that has been lived, and offers family and friends the opportunity to pay tribute to their loved one.
The gathering of family and friends for a time of sharing and funeral service helps to provide emotional support so needed at this time. This will help those who grieve to face the reality of death and consequently, to take the first step toward a healthy emotional adjustment.
The funeral can and does take on many varied forms. Funerals can last from minutes to months and are usually influenced by the lifestyle and values of the bereaved family and friends.
A valuable aspect of contemporary funerals is their individuality. Whether a ceremony is elaborate or simple, funerals are often individualized to reflect the life of the deceased and to hold special meaning for family and other survivors.
It may reflect the occupation or hobbies of the deceased. It may center around an ethnic background or social affiliation.
In our society, three basic forms of final disposition are practiced. The first is earth burial which continues to be the form of disposition chosen most often.
Cremation is also a choice. This is a process of preparing the body for final disposition whereby the body is reduced by intense heat over several hours to a few pounds of small fragments. These cremated remains are usually placed in a container or an urn which may be buried, placed in a memorial niche, or kept in some other location. Cremated remains may also be scattered where permitted by law.
Finally, entombment in a crypt is also a choice and is one of the oldest forms of disposition. Today many cemeteries maintain crypts for entombment which may be in a mausoleum or in an outdoor garden.
It has been estimated that over 136 individual activities must take place in order for one funeral to be conducted. The funeral director is actually an organizational specialist.
Perhaps one of the most important tasks you now face is the disposition of a loved one's estate. Whether or not the deceased had a will can make a greater difference in the time and effort involved in the proper disposition. It is suggested that you obtain legal advice on the array of different matters such as the disbursement or conversion of assets, changing of property deeds and titles, the disposition of bank accounts, stocks and bonds, and the disposition of business assets.
If you do not have an attorney, now is a good time to find one. The best methods of finding an attorney are through friends and relatives, or by calling your local bar association.
If your loved one had a will, it will need to be probated. Probate is the legal procedure for the orderly distribution of estates. In most cases, probating a will is a simple process. Only in the instances where the will is being contested or the deceased had numerous holdings will the action be more complex. There is usually a specific time within which a will must be probated, so it is important to check carefully.
If there is no will, the estate will be disposed of according to the state laws governing descent and distribution. Preparation and or review of your own will are also an important consideration at this time. It is the best way to assure that your estate is handled according to your desires.
Today there are more issues than ever before regarding "death with dignity" or "the right to die." Advances in medical and scientific techniques have found ways to keep people alive by way of machines. As a result, more and more people are concerned with issues regarding the "quality of life."
On June 25, 1990, the Supreme Court rules in the Nancy Cruzan case that Americans do have the constitutional "right to die," and indicated that a Living Will or Durable Power of Attorney may be the best way to protect that right.
Issues concerning measures to sustain life and the quality of life are very personal, and it is recommended that you discuss these issues with your family. Today most states have Living Will statutes, specifying documents, which anyone can copy, and sign according to state law. You may obtain additional information in regard to your state, or about this issue, by contacting:
Choice In Dying
200 Varick Street
New York, New York 10014-4810
Phone Number: 1-800-989-WILL
Lauber-Moore Funeral Homes and it's predecessor Moore's Funeral Homes have always been proud to provide quality cemetery monuments for our clients. We continue to offer quality "custom" designed monuments and to provide first class memorials with an unheard of "Satisfaction Guarantee".
For those of you who have purchased a Rock of Ages product and wish to match that special branded product, we will continue to have the availability to match those monuments for you as well as honor any and all warranties.
We understand that your family, like many, may wish to have your memorial highly personalized so that it will hold a special meaning. We continue to be one of only a few monument retailers able to provide your family with a "custom" memorial, unique in design, style and architectural character. We will ensure that your memorial is designed to reflect your family's unique spirit, so future generations will be able to treasure fond memories forever.
Colors range from glowing white to deepest black and include a wide variety of warm earth tones, soft rose and mauve tones and classic grays. This is why we are proud to be able to offer you and your family a full line of memorials (whether a small simple grave site marker or a very unique family monument or an above ground mausoleum for one or for the family.
We pride ourselves on the industry's best guarantee. We strive to provide the best value for the dollars invested at a budget decided by you, the purchaser.
Grief comes because we love Love never fails and grief is only an expression for the monument of that love - Fr. James Cooper
1. Best to clean on a cloudy day. Never clean when the surface of the stone is hot.
2. Must have ample supply of cold water for washing and rinsing.
3. Always start cleaning at the bottom and work up; not from the top down.
4. Always check for abnormalities such as something loose, etc. Call us if needed.
5. Take precautions to protect grass and shrubbery if necessary. Place paper bags, etc. around base to absorb water.
6. Use a natural bristle brush always. May have to scrub numerous times. Scrub the monument with a mild detergent that DOES NOT contain an oil base. One recommended product is "Bon Ami" due to its non-abrasive property. (Ivory or Dawn detergents also work).
7. Never allow solution to dry on the stone. If the surface is large, do a small area at a time, keeping area wet to avoid streaking. Always rinse the cleaning solution off the stone with plenty of water. Wash out brush frequently while cleaning. Always final rinse and let dry out completely.
8. May use "Windex" or similar product for the final shining.
9. For a simple cleaning, or if you need just to touch up the dust, use "Windex" or a similar product.
Be assured that when a death occurs out of town or away from home, we can still handle all the necessary arrangements. If death occurs here and services are to be elsewhere or if death occurs out of town and services are to be here, we can help.
Because of our activities with our state, regional and national associations, we know many other funeral service professionals, personally. So, you can be sure that we would be recommending the most competent, qualified, and professional firms. Please contact us for more information.
Because we coordinate all the arrangements with the other funeral home, any expenses involved will not be duplicated. Most of the time, the only additional expense with out of town arrangements are those of transportation. If death or burial is in a foreign country, our network of international associates is an invaluable help. We will handle all documentation necessary.
We can also help with travel arrangements for family members. If they choose to make their own arrangements, they should always check to see if a "bereavement" fare will lower their cost. We will provide written or telephone documentation to any travel agency or airline as needed.