Social Security Information

Notification of death:

Funeral directors notify Social Security of a workers death.It is best to wait until after the funeral to contact Social Security.1-800-772-1213

How Social Security helps families:

Social Security survivors benefits help ease the financial burden that follows a worker’s death.  Almost all children under age 18 will get monthly benefits if a working parent dies. Other family members may be eligible for benefits, too.  Anyone who has worked and paid Social Security (FICA) taxes has been earning Social Security benefits for his or her family.  The amount of work needed to pay survivors benefits depends on the worker’s age at the time of death.  It may be as little as 1-1/2 years for a younger worker, No one needs more than 10.

Who can get survivors benefits?

·        Widows and widowers age 60 or older.

·        Widows and widowers at any age if  caring for the deceased’s child(ren) who are under age 16 or disabled.

·        Divorced wives and husbands age 60 or older, if married to deceased person 10 or more years.

·        Widows, widowers, divorced wives, and divorced husbands age 50 or older, if they are disabled.

·        Children up to age 18.

·        Children age 18-19, if they attend elementary or high school full time.

·        Children over age 18, if they become disabled before age 22.

·        The deceased worker’s parents age 62 or older, if they were being supported by the worker.

A Special one-time payment:

In addition to monthly benefits for family members, a one-time payment of $255.00 can be paid to a spouse who was living with worker at the time of death.

If there is none, it can be paid to, (1) A spouse who is eligible for benefits, (2) a child or Children eligible for benefits. 

This payment cannot be made if there is no eligible spouse or child.

All information taken from SSA-721 (9/91)

Veteran’s Benefits

Benefits Generally Available to Veterans:

To qualify for any government benefit, an honorable discharge is required.

A copy must accompany each benefit application.

Boyer Funeral Home prepares all the applications for veterans families.

Boyer Funeral Home gives veterans a $250.00 discount on full service funerals. $50.00 on cremations.

• A government marker for a veteran’s grave.
• $100.00 towards the Installation of Government marker, except if buried in a national cemetery, the cemetery 
  installs it.
• An American flag to cover the casket, a grave standard and flag.
• A $100.00 payment from Perry County for County residents only.
• A burial plot and burial vault for the veteran and spouse in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
• Recently passed legislation provides for death benefits for veterans living in Pennsylvania State Veteran Homes.
• Unmarried widows of deceased veterans are eligible for a $100.00 payment.
• Military Honors are available and are provided by service organizations.

There may be other benefits available according to individual circumstances of service.

For more information on veterans benefits, contact the Perry County Veterans Affairs Officer, Lynn Van Leaven at (717) 582-8984, ext. 5, or 582-3279 for 24 hour voice mail.