Some Post Funeral Tasks

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The information provided in this section is excerpted from a booklet that has been written and put together by the Money and King Funeral Home. They have made this material available to us for incorporation into the Immanuel Pre-Funeral package and we want to thank them for their support in our effort.

Included in this section is the identification of some issues that may require the Survivor to take action. A Post-Funeral To-Do Checklist has been provided as a quick reminder to make sure that the main items are addressed and not overlooked. A short commentary for some of the items has been included so that you can quickly put the necessary data
together for presentation to the appropriate agency for their review and updating of their records. As noted in some of these sections you should make an effort to avoid any delays in filing the data with them as such delays may cause you to forfeit some of the benefits that are due you. Your particular situation may include items that are not addressed here, as the material presented here is meant to cover topics that, in general, apply to most people, e.g., Social Security, and it is not expected to be a universal all-encompassing list. Please note that certain of this information is dated material.

FILING FOR BENEFITS

Your funeral director can help you in filing for benefits. The funeral director will provide the necessary copies of the death certificate and can assist when filing claims for insurance or Social Security, Veterans, and/or professional or fraternal order benefits. You can ask the
funeral director any questions that may arise during this process.

Following are some important things to remember when filing claims on your own or when working with a funeral director:

• The sooner you file the sooner you will start receiving your benefits.

• Make certain you have filed for all eligible benefits. Check with all federal and state social service agencies, employers, insurance companies, and any other agencies with which the deceased was affiliated.

• If you have doubts or questions about any benefits, contact the appropriate agency or administration. You also can ask your funeral director to obtain the information on your behalf.

Social Security Benefits
To obtain your Social Security benefits, you will need to provide the following original or certified documents and information to your local Social Security office:

• Proof of your age. This can be documented with a copy of your birth certificate.

• The deceased's W-2 tax forms or the previous year's federal tax returns.

• Proof of the deceased's support, if applying as a dependent parent, child or grandchild.

• A Social Security card belonging to the deceased or another document proving the deceased's Social Security number.

• Your Social Security card if you are the beneficiary,

• A certified copy of your marriage license and copies of divorce papers if you are not the deceased's first spouse.

• A Social Security filing form, which can be obtained from your funeral director or the nearest Social Security office.

• Birth certificates or other proof of age of all dependents.

• A copy of the death certificate.

• All bank account and financial information in the deceased's name.

To file for these benefits yourself, call your local Social Security  Administration office. It will be listed in your local telephone directory under "Social Security Administration" or "United States Government, Health and Human Services." Applications can be taken over the telephone in most areas. You also can contact the Social Security Administration
online at www.ssa.gov. Among the site's detailed, up-to-date information, the booklets Survivors Benefits (Publication No. 05-10084) and Social Security: Understanding the Benefits (Publication No. 05-10024) contain information and instructions about filing for benefits and can be downloaded by clicking on the title.

Please be patient. Because of the large volume of claims being processed at any given time, it may take up to two months for you to start receiving benefits.*

*Note: Social Security benefits will only begin after you have filed for them. If you do not file for benefits as quickly as possible, you may forfeit your benefits for the months that have elapsed since the death.

Veterans' Benefits
The surviving spouse and dependents of a deceased veteran who had received his or her discharge papers are entitled to certain benefits. There are three major benefits available to families of veterans:

• Pensions or compensations are available for service-connected and non-service-connected deaths. A non-service-connected death pension is available to the widow, widower or dependent children. If the death was service-related, dependency and indemnity compensation may be available. Eligibility for these benefits is determined by the income
and marital status of the surviving spouse.

• A deceased veteran's family may be eligible for a portion of the burial expenses.

• A veteran's family may be eligible for a headstone or a sum made payable toward a headstone of choice.

Other benefits are available for survivors under additional circumstances. For a copy of the "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents" booklet, write to: Office of Public Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420. Information regarding veteran benefits also is available on the Department of Veterans Affairs web site, www.va.gov, and from your local or regional Veteran's Administration office and the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C.

Retirement or Pension Funds
Some businesses transfer pension or retirement accounts to the surviving spouse. Check with the deceased's place of employment or former employer to see if such a policy exists,

Union Benefits
Certain union members' spouses or dependents are entitled to a pension. Check with your local union office for details on pensions that may apply to you.

Professional or Fraternal Organizations
Professional and fraternal organizations have "death benefit" sums or other benefits for a deceased member of the organization or lodge. You should call your local organization to inquire. Regardless of benefits, however, such organizations should be notified of the death. It is customary for news of the death to be printed in their publications or announced at meetings.

Life Insurance
It is not uncommon for life insurance policies to date back many years, especially in the case of older persons. To file life insurance claims, you should first locate all policies issued to the deceased. If you have a primary insurance agent, he or she may be willing to file the claim for you.

Most life insurance policies have no filing deadline. The sooner you file the claim, however, the sooner you will begin receiving benefits. It is wise to have a payment schedule arranged so you can budget expenses above funeral and other initial expenses in monthly sums. Your insurance agent or a bank officer can help you in doing this.

If you and the deceased owned mortgaged real estate together, check with your primary insurance agent or the lending institution holding the deed to the property to determine if there was mortgage insurance.

This also is a good time to update your own life insurance coverage, modifying where necessary and changing the beneficiary on your policy or policies, if needed.

Wills and Estates
Simply stated, a will is a written record of one's preferences for the distribution of personal property after death.

In most states, property that is held in the name of a husband or wife does not need to be filed through probate court. Often, the filing of a document, such as an affidavit or death certificate, will clear the title and show the surviving spouse as the owner of record.

If the decedent had a will, it should be probated as soon as possible. Many states have limitations that require a will to be probated within a certain amount of time. Some states require proof of lost wills, assuming that a legitimate copy can be produced.

In the absence of a will, state laws govern the inheritance of the property. These laws provide for the distribution of property in a fixed manner, according to the state's statutes. If you have specific questions about the laws in your state, you should seek the advice of an attorney.

The federal government levies a tax on estates that are inherited because of a death. Also, many states impose an additional inheritance tax. Both of these taxes are subject to numerous exemptions. For more information on taxes, check the "Estate, Inheritance and Other Taxes" section on Page 5.

Finally, it is important that you get good advice about what should be included in the estate, what taxes will have to be paid, if any, and how to go about administering the estate. In most cases, it will be necessary to consult an attorney. If the deceased had an attorney, check with him or her to see if the deceased left a will, as many attorneys retain an original copy of the wills they prepare for clients. This also would be a good time to think about drawing up your own will or revising the one you have. The death of a spouse generally creates a change in circumstances that may necessitate revisions in your estate plan.

ADDITIONAL PAPERWORK

After filing for benefits, you are now ready to take the next step—taking care of all the additional paperwork that must be done over the next few months. The first step is examining any accounts, assets and bills that are in the deceased's name and changing them to the name of the person who will now be responsible. In addition to meeting the legal requirements, correcting this information and placing the responsibility in your hands
will help you to further your sense of independence.

While there are many documents to be changed, the following list includes some of the most common. As you read through the list, note any categories that may apply to you so that you will remember to take care of them. The Post-Funeral To-Do Checklist at the back of this booklet is also provided for this purpose.

Banking
All checking and savings accounts, stocks, bonds, and safe deposit boxes in the name of the deceased may be frozen upon notification of death. Even if the accounts were in two names, the assets will remain frozen until a valid will or determination of inheritance is produced. Once a chief inheritor has been named, the appropriate accounts must be changed to the correct name. If you are the surviving spouse or child, all the accounts must be changed to your name before becoming valid.

Charge/Credit Cards
You may want to change the name of your charge and credit card accounts, especially if you and the deceased had joint accounts. In most cases, the instructions for changing names will be on the billing statement. Contact information is usually printed on the back of the card, as well.

Mortgages
Any property deeds held by a bank or savings and loan institution must be transferred to the name of the inheritor. Call your loan officer to learn how to make the changes.

Estate, Inheritance and Other Taxes
Estates generally are subject to taxation from two sources: federal estate tax and state inheritance tax. If the total value of the estate exceeds limits set by the government, there is the potential of federal estate taxes. This tax is subject to several exceptions, deductions
and exemptions, which can be quite complicated. A surviving spouse is entitled to a federal estate tax marital deduction on estate assets received. Use of this deduction will minimize federal estate taxes. Check with the Internal Revenue Service or a tax attorney for information on eligibility.

Most states levy an inheritance tax, which is somewhat different from the estate tax, but also has numerous exceptions and deductions. You can receive more information from your state's revenue department.

Federal estate taxes must be filed within nine months to avoid penalties. This makes it important to begin determining the amount due, if any, so you can file within the deadline.

Filing federal estate tax returns and other matters involving estate and inheritance taxes generally can be handled by an attorney who is familiar with estate planning and probate work.

Mutual Funds and/or Stocks and Bonds
Any such holdings in the deceased's name must be changed to the inheritor's name. Check with your banker or broker if you own such assets.

Trusts and Trust Funds
Any trust funds would have been arranged through the deceased's bank officer and attorney. Check with them to see if trusts exist.

Automobile Title and Licensing
The title and license registration of the automobiles owned by the deceased must be changed to the name of the person who inherits the vehicles. Make an inquiry in writing to the licensing and title division in your state. Each situation is unique, and each state has different laws governing this procedure. Whenever you make inquiries in writing, be sure to
keep a copy for your records.

If the car title is still held by a bank, responsibility for paying the remaining portion of payment also falls to the person inheriting the vehicle.

Utilities, Telephone and Other Household Accounts
A call or written request to your utility and telephone companies is usually sufficient to have the name on the accounts changed. In some cases, you will need to sign a new signature card at a local office. Many widows choose to have their telephone directory listing under the deceased's name. This can be done if requested after changing the billing name. Initials may also be used in a listing in place of a first name if it makes you more comfortable.

Post-Funeral To-Do Checklist
This list is provided to help you keep track of the many tasks that you may need to complete following your loss.

Filing for Benefits

• Social Security Administration

• Department of Veterans Affairs

• Retirement or Pension Funds

• Union Benefits

• Professional or Fraternal Organizations

• Life Insurance

• Wills and Estates


Additional Paperwork (notification of death and name changes)

• Banking:

• Checking Account

• Savings Account

• Safe Deposit Boxes

• Charge/credit cards

• Mortgages (savings and loan/titles and deeds to property)

• Estate, Inheritance and Other Taxes (federal and state taxes: estate
and inheritance)

• Mutual Funds and/or Stocks and Bonds

• Trusts and Trust Funds

• Automobile Title and Licensing

• Utilities, Telephone and Other Household Accounts

• Insurance (change of beneficiary/update policies)

Health

Auto

Homeowners

• Personal property

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