Making Sure Your Spouse Knows What To Do
Retiree Check List
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provides an annual checklist for retirees and their beneficiaries. It is
designed to equip you and your loved ones with helpful knowledge and
information. While it may be impossible to truly prepare for the overwhelming
emotions and dilemmas that arise with the loss of a loved one, it does help
when most of the issues have been addressed.
___ Create a military file that includes your retirement orders,
separation papers, medical records, ect. Make sure your spouse knows the
location and telephone number of the nearest military installation.
___ Create a military retired file that includes the pertinent
information for the DFAS and Navy personnel Command:
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
U.S. Military Retirement Pay
Post Office Box 7130
London, KY 40742-7130
(800) 321-1080 or (216) 522-5955/(800) 269-5170
(for deceased members)
Department of the Navy
NPC PERS-675
Retired Activities Section
5720 Integrity Drive
Millington, TN 38055-6640
(This file should also include the number of any VA claims still pending and
the address of the VA office being used; a list of deductions currently being
made from benefits; and the name, relationship, and address of the person you
have made the beneficiary of any unpaid retired pay at the time of death.)
___ Create an annuities file. This file should contain information about
the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan
(RCSBP) or the Retired Serviceman's Family Protection Plan (RSFPP), Civil
Service annuity claims can be obtained from the DFAS-Cleveland office at 1-800-321-1080.
___ Create a personal document file that has copies of marriage
certificates, divorce decrees, adoptions and naturalization papers.
___ Create an income tax file. Include copies of both your state and
federal tax returns.
___ Create a property tax file. Include copies of tax bills, deeds and
any other related information.
___ Create an insurance policy file. Include life, property, accident,
liability and hospitalization policies.
___ In a secure location, maintain a list of all bank accounts (joint or
individual). Include the location of all deposit boxes, savings bonds, stocks,
bonds and any securities owned.
___ Maintain a list of all associations and organizations of which you
are a member. Some of them could be helpful to your spouse.
___ Maintain a list of all friends and business associates who may be
helpful. Include name, address and phone number.
___ Spend time with your spouse discussing your plans with respect to
the type and place or your funeral service. You should decide which cemetery,
whether ground burial, or cremation, etc. If your spouse knows your desires, it
will resolve some of the questions that might arise at a later date.
___ Visit a local funeral home and pre-arrange your services. Many
states will allow you to pre-pay for services.
___ Investigate the decisions that you and your family have agreed upon.
Many states have specific laws and guidelines regulating cremation and burials
at sea. Some states require a letter of authority signed by the deceased in
order to authorize a cremation. Know the laws in your specific area and how
they may affect your decisions. Information regarding burials at sea can be
obtained by phoning the Office of Medical and Dental Affairs-Mortuary Affairs
Division at 1-800-876-1131.
___ Once your decisions have been made and you're comfortable with them, have
a will drawn up outlining all your wishes.
___ Insure your will and all other official documents are maintained in a
secure location known by your loved ones. This includes all of your DD214s
or Retirement Orders.
___ When all the decision-making and documenting is completed, sit back and
continue to enjoy life.
Who should be notified in the event of my death?
1. Defense Finance and accounting Service:
(800) 321-1080 or (216) 522-5955/(800) 269-5170
2. Social Security Administration (for death benefits):
(800) 722-1213
3. Department of Veterans Affairs (if applicable):
(800) 827-1000
4. Office or Personnel Management (OPM) (if applicable):
(724) 794-8690.
5. Any previous employer that provides pension or benefits.
The above information is not all-inclusive and should be used with other estate
planning tools to lessen trauma to your loved ones. If you have other
suggestions that might prove helpful send them to the Retired Activities
Section for publication in a future issue.
Department of the Navy
NPC PERS-675
Retired Activities Section
Where to Go For Help.
Vietnam Veterans (plus Veterans who served in Korea in 1968 or 1969), and
other Veterans who may have been exposed while on military service to Agent
Orange or other herbicides elsewhere during the testing, transporting or
spraying of herbicides for military purposes and who are concerned about
possible long-term health effects of Agent Orange exposure. - contact the
nearest VA medical center and request an Agent Orange Registry health
examination. More then 300,000 Vietnam Veterans have already participated in this
program.
Vietnam Veterans with illnesses that they believe were incurred or
aggravated by exposure to Agent Orange or other aspects of military service
- contact a VA Veterans services representative at the nearest VA regional
office or health care facility and apply for disability compensation. The
counselors have information about the wide range of benefit programs
administered by VA. The national toll-free number is 1-800-827-1000.
Vietnam Veterans with children who have spina bifida - contact the VA
national toll-free hotline at 1- 888-820-1756, or the nearest VA
regional office by calling toll-free: 1-800-827-1000. Additional
information on spina bifida is available from
Spina Bifida Association of America
toll-free telephone: 800-621-3141. E-mail address: Sbaa@sbaa.org; and web site: www.sbaa.org/.
Representative of Veterans service organizations, including The American
Legion (1-800-433-3318), Paralyzed Veterans of American (1-800-424-8200),
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (1-800- VFW-1899),
Disabled American Veterans (1-877-426- 2838), AMVETS (1-877-726-8387),
Vietnam Veterans of America (1-800-882-1316), and others, have also been
helpful to Vietnam Veterans seeking disability compensation. (These
organizations are cited as examples. There are many other excellent Veterans
service organizations. VA does not endorse or recommend any specific group over
another.)
County Veteran Service Officers also have been of great help to many
military Veterans, including Vietnam Veterans, seeking benefits they earned
through their service to the Nation.