Trusted Links,
All in One Place

Veterans & VA

Benefits for Veterans, their spouses and their survivors.

Burial & memorial

• VA Burial Benefits & Memorial ItemsThe starting point for burial in a national cemetery, pre-need eligibility, allowances and memorial items.
• Pre-Need Eligibility for BurialApply ahead of time (VA Form 40-10007) so the family knows burial is approved.
• Schedule a BurialWhat the funeral home and family need at the time of need.National Cemetery Scheduling Office: 800-535-1117
• Burial Allowance & Transportation BenefitsPartial reimbursement of funeral costs for qualifying families (VA Form 21P-530EZ).
• Headstones, Markers & MedallionsFree memorials for national, state and private cemeteries.
• Burial FlagsHow to request the U.S. flag that honors a Veteran or Reservist.
• Presidential Memorial CertificatesA certificate signed by the President honoring the Veteran's service.
• Military Funeral Honors FAQsDepartment of Defense answers on flag folding, Taps and who arranges honors.
• Nationwide Gravesite LocatorFind where a Veteran or family member is buried.
• Florida National CemeteriesLocations, phone numbers and which cemeteries are open.

Pension, Aid & Attendance and survivor benefits

• Aid and Attendance & Housebound BenefitsExtra monthly pension for Veterans and survivors who need help with daily activities or are housebound.
• VA PensionMonthly payments for wartime Veterans who meet age or disability and income limits.
• Survivors PensionMonthly payments for qualifying surviving spouses and children of wartime Veterans.
• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)Tax-free payments for survivors of service members or Veterans who died from a service-connected condition.
• Survivor Compensation OverviewOne page comparing Survivors Pension and DIC.
• CHAMPVAHealth coverage for certain spouses, survivors and dependents of Veterans.
• VA Disability CompensationMonthly payments for conditions connected to military service.

Records & free help

• National Archives: Request Military Records (DD214)Request a replacement DD214 online (eVetRecs) or by Standard Form 180. Next of kin can request too.
• Find a VA Accredited Representative or VSOFree help filing VA claims from a Veterans Service Organization near you.
• Florida Department of Veterans' AffairsState benefits, state Veterans' homes and help with federal claims for Florida Veterans.
• Veterans Crisis LineFree, confidential support for Veterans and the people who love them, any time of day.Dial 988, then press 1 · Text 838255

End of Life & Memorial Planning

Planning a service, knowing your rights, and the calls and paperwork after a loss.

Planning a funeral or memorial

• FTC: The Funeral RuleYour rights when buying funeral goods and services, including prices by phone and a written General Price List.
• FTC: Shopping for Funeral ServicesTips for comparing funeral homes and planning ahead without pressure.
• Funeral Consumers AllianceA nonprofit with plain-language guides to funeral choices and costs.
• Florida Division of Funeral, Cemetery & Consumer ServicesFlorida rules on prepaid funeral contracts, plus help with questions and complaints.800-323-2627 (in Florida) · 850-413-3039

After a death

• USA.gov: Agencies to Notify When Someone DiesA checklist of the government offices to contact.
• Social Security: What to Do When Someone DiesReporting a death and applying for survivor benefits.
• Social Security Survivors Benefits (PDF)Social Security's booklet on who qualifies and how to apply.
• Florida Death CertificatesHow to order certified copies from the Florida Department of Health.
• IRS: Final Tax Returns of a Deceased PersonWhat the surviving spouse or representative files, and when.

Federal & Postal Employees

Retirement, insurance and survivor benefits through OPM and the TSP.

Retirement & accounts

• OPM Retirement ServicesFERS and CSRS retirement information, forms and contacts.
• OPM Retirement Services OnlineRetirees' account for annuity statements, 1099-R forms and updates.
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)Account access, beneficiaries, withdrawals and TSP publications.

Insurance

• FEGLI Life InsuranceCoverage options, costs, beneficiaries and claims.
• FEHB Health BenefitsPlans, enrollment and keeping coverage into retirement.
• Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB)The health program for USPS employees and annuitants, including Medicare rules.

Survivors

• OPM Survivor BenefitsSurvivor annuities and what happens to health and life insurance.
• OPM: Report an Annuitant DeathHow families report the death of a federal retiree, online or by phone.

Medicare, Social Security & Estate

Health coverage, retirement income, long-term care and legal help.

Medicare & Social Security

• Medicare.govThe official Medicare site: enrollment, coverage and plan comparisons.
• Florida SHINEFree, unbiased one-on-one Medicare counseling from trained volunteers.1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337)
• my Social Security AccountCheck your earnings record, benefit estimates and statements.

Long-term care & aging services

• Eldercare LocatorConnects older adults and caregivers with local services anywhere in the U.S.Call or text 1-800-677-1116
• Long-Term Care Planning (ACL)What long-term care is, what it costs and how people pay for it.
• Florida Department of Elder AffairsState programs for housing, caregiving, nutrition and elder protection.
• Florida Medicaid Long-Term Care ProgramHow Florida Medicaid helps pay for nursing home and home-based care.

Legal help

• The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral ServiceReferrals to Florida attorneys, including estate planning and elder law.1-800-342-8011, Monday–Friday