First steps: begin the record file

• Obtain certified death certificates and preserve the original death/casualty documentation.
• If the person died while serving, work through the assigned casualty assistance officer and service casualty system.
• If the person was retired, notify DFAS promptly so retired pay can be stopped and audited.
• Identify SGLI/VGLI or other life-insurance coverage and the beneficiary record.
• Identify burial/cemetery and military funeral-honors needs before final arrangements are locked in.
• Preserve DD-214/separation papers, retirement orders, marriage/birth records, beneficiary elections, VA decisions and insurance records.

Create separate benefit folders

Keep casualty assistance, final pay/AOP, life insurance, SBP, DIC, Survivors Pension, education, TRICARE, burial, accrued benefits and estate matters in separate folders. A single death can create many independent claims with different decision-makers and deadlines.

Do not close accounts before preserving records

Preserve pay, insurance, personnel, VA, tax and beneficiary records through your own authorized access or a lawful request to the custodian. Ask the agency what proof of relationship or authority it requires; do not sign in as the deceased person or use their credentials. Do not move or spend a final military/retired-pay deposit until DFAS or the paying agency confirms entitlement; post-death payments may be reclaimed and recomputed.

Continue with: Casualty Assistance · Final Pay · Life Insurance Claims · SBP Annuity · DIC · Burial and Honors

Official sources

• Military OneSource — Casualty Assistance
• Military OneSource — Survivor Assistance
• VA — Benefits for Survivors and Family Members
• TRICARE — Survivors
• VA — Burial and Memorial Benefits

Source status: SRC-138; SRC-139; SRC-141; SRC-155; SRC-158; SRC-163 verified October 4, 2026. Survivor eligibility depends on the deceased person’s status, elections, relationship records, dates, and the particular benefit program.