The passing of a Veteran is a solemn time that deserves to be recognized and reported with the utmost respect. Veterans have served their country and worked hard for their well-deserved benefits. After a Veteran passes away, family members should report the death of the Veteran to VA as soon as possible to stop current benefits payments. If the death is not reported promptly, survivors or executors of the Veteran’s estate may have to repay any overpayments received.
By Phone (the fastest method): Call VA 800- 827-1000 and select 5. Agents are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET. By Mail: Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444. Include your relationship to the Veteran and any supporting documents that can help us verify the Veteran’s identity. Examples of supporting documents are death certificate (or other public record of the Veteran’s death) and discharge document (like a DD214).
Provide as much information about the Veteran as you can when you first report the notice of death to VA. This information will help VA verify the Veteran’s identity. This information VA claim number, date of birth, date of death, and branch of service. includes full name, social security number or
You may also contact your CVSO to receive assistance with reporting a Veteran’s death and to discuss potential survivor and burial benefits.
To help avoid survivor benefit scams, keep essential documents like military service records, discharge papers, and VA claims. Set up a VA.gov account with a secure PIN to protect direct deposit details and personal information (PII). Avoid sharing PII via text and be cautious of unfamiliar links. Report missing payments or suspicious activity to the VA at 800-827-1000. Carefully review and keep copies of all signed documents.
Notify credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to mark credit reports with a deceased notice and inform financial institutions to close or transfer accounts. When writing obituaries, AARP advises omitting details like birthdate, address, and mother’s maiden name to deter scammers. Visit va.gov/vsafe for more scam prevention tips, and file complaints about funeral scams at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Funeral homes should not charge to set up military funeral honors or to schedule a burial with VA’s National Cemetery Administration.
Brad Anderson and Melissa Crandall are the Lake County Veterans Service Officers and can be reached at 218.834.8326 or cvso@co.lake.mn.us
Karen Christianson is the Cook County Veterans Service Officer and can be reached at 218.387.3639, or karen.christianson@co.cook.mn.us
