An Important Message for Retirees

Print Version (in English & Korean, PDF)

The following was discovered among the papers of a retiree who died in 1999. He had answered all the questions and this helped the Casualty Assistance Officer in quickly and accurately completing the paperwork required in filing for the widow’s benefits. The title says it all!

HELP YOUR WIDOW WHILE SHE’S STILL YOUR WIFE: What does this mean? If you died today, would your wife know whom to contact? What to do? How to collect her benefits? The location of all of your personal papers? No? Then read on.

Below are some of the questions your surviving spouse will be asked to answer upon your death:

• a. Did your spouse previously apply to the VA for any benefits? If so, what is the VA file number and where is the file located?
• b. Where was your spouse born?
• c. What are the exact dates and places your spouse entered active Federal Service, and service number(s) other than social security number assigned?
• d. What are the exact dates and places your spouse was separated from or retired from active Federal Service?

NOTE: c and d above are tough ones, huh? Bet you can’t answer them without your DD Forms 214.

• e. Grade, rank, or rating, organization, and branch of service for answers to d above.
• f. Did veteran serve under a name other than his present name? If so, what was that name?
• g. How many times was the veteran married?
• h. What are the dates, places and names of persons to whom your spouse was previously married?
• i. What are the dates, places and reasons that the previous marriages were terminated?
• j. What is your spouse’s father’s name?
• k. What is your spouse’s mother’s maiden name?
• l. If we need to contact a close relative of your deceased spouse to obtain more information, to whom and where can we write, phone and/or e-mail?
• m. Did your spouse have a will?
• n. Where is the will?
• o. Did your spouse have insurance? What are the policy numbers, and the names and addresses of the companies?
• p. Did your spouse have RSFPP/SBP?
• q. Please furnish me with a copy of your spouse’s latest leave and earnings or retired pay statement.
• r. Did your spouse have a safe deposit box? Where?
• s. Did your spouse have money in a savings or banking organization? Where? What is (are) the account number(s)? Is (are) it (they) individual or joint account(s)?
• t. Do you have all the divorce decrees for your spouse and yourself? Where?
• u. Do you have the original or notarized copy of your marriage certificate? Do you have the original or notarized copy of your family register? Where?
• v. Do you have the original or notarized copies of birth certificates for your spouse, yourself and all your children? Where?
• w. Do you have original or notarized copies of all DD Forms 214 for your spouse? Where?
• x. Do you have original or notarized copies of adoption certificates and original naturalization certificate(s)? Where?

Please "HELP YOUR WIDOW WHILE SHE’S STILL YOUR WIFE." Don’t just read this! Start working on it today! For those of you who are interested in being fully prepared, please call me and make an appointment. I will be more than happy to sit down with you and pre-prepare all the forms, etc., that your surviving spouse will need upon your death. Please call me and let me help your wife now.

from Retirement Services Bulletin, US Army Garrison Yongsan, Fall 1985

The following two questions are important enough to include with the above list of questions:

• y. Do you have a social security number? If not, do you have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (apply with IRS Form W-7)? You will need one of these to open a credit union account in your own name.
• z. Are there any relatives in the U.S. that should be notified of your spouse’s death? What are the names, relationship, mailing address, telephone number and e-mail address?

Retiree Activities Office, Osan AB