MNG-067 · DEATH, FAMILY & SURVIVORS
Survivor IDs, DEERS & Dependency Status
Maintain survivor DEERS and ID-card records, dependency status, death reporting, TRICARE eligibility, relationship evidence, and status changes after a sponsor dies.
Death reporting and DEERS
TRICARE states that survivor medical/dental records are normally updated in DEERS after death information reaches DMDC from the services and Social Security Administration. Survivors may also notify DMDC directly with a copy of the death certificate when faster correction is needed.
Preserve the relationship file
- Death certificate and casualty/death record
- Marriage certificate and divorce/remarriage records where relevant
- Birth/adoption/guardianship records for children
- Student-status or incapacity records when eligibility depends on them
- Survivor ID card and DEERS transaction confirmation
- Benefit letters showing current dependency status
Status changes can affect different programs differently
Remarriage, a child’s marriage, age, school attendance, disability/incapacity, Medicare eligibility or another change can affect TRICARE, SBP, DIC, pension, education or ID-card eligibility differently. Check each program rather than assuming one rule applies across all survivor benefits.
Official sources
Source status: SRC-155; SRC-001; SRC-002; SRC-003 verified October 4, 2026. Report status changes to each program that requires them; updating one federal system does not guarantee every other program is updated.
