Retired Activities

Making Sure Your Spouse Knows What To Do

Retiree Check List

Shift Colors 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
5729 Integrity Drive
Millington, TN 38055-6640

Where to Go For Help.

Vietnam Veterans with questions or concerns about Agent Orange - contact VA's Gulf War/Agent Orange Helpline. The national toll-free telephone number is 800-749-8387. A great deal of information is also available on our new Web Page. It is located at http://www.va.gov /agentorange.

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 who need medical treatment for conditions that may be related to their exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides used in Vietnam - contact the nearest VA medical center for eligibility information and possible medical treatment or call the following toll-free telephone number for information about eligibility and enrollment. 1-877-222-8387.

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 who encounter difficulties at a VA medical center - contact the "patient advocate" or " patient representative" at the facility for assistance in resolving the problem. Ask the medical center telephone operator for the patient advocate or representative.

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
4590 MacArthur Blvd. N.W. Suite 250
Washington, DC 20007-4226

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.