Office of Survivors Assistance

Department of Defense Links
Military OneSource

Military OneSource understands the needs of military family members who have lost a loved one. Surviving spouses, parents, and children can turn to Military OneSource for information, resources, and counseling support during their time of need. Help is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week by telephone or Internet. Services include:

• Face-to-face counseling in the local community at no cost
• Immediate support of those with emotional well-being issues
• Referrals to appropriate Service branch agencies, aid agencies, charitable organizations, support groups, and other resources
• Educational materials related to benefits, grief, and other related issues
• Translation services for more than 150 languages

Additional Contact Information:

• From overseas, deployed, or in remote areas only, you may call collect at Telephone Number 484-530-5908
• En Espanol Telephone Number 1-877-888-0727
• TTY/TTD Telephone Number 1-800-346-9188

National Resource Directory:

This directory is an online partnership for wounded, ill, and injured service members, Veterans, their families, and families of the fallen, and those who support them. Casualty assistance is under the Family Support icon.

Visit the directory

Arlington National Cemetery:

If you wish to have your loved one buried or interred at Arlington National Cemetery, you should ask your local funeral home to telephone the internment office and arrange for the interment service. This should be done while you are, or your representative is, in the funeral home.

1-877-907-8585
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil

Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS):

DFAS provides professional finance and accounting services for members of the Uniformed Services and their dependents. Here you will find a wealth of information about military pay and benefits. Look under Retired Pay for information on Survivor Benefits.

1-800-321-1080
http://www.dod.mil/dfas/

Social Security Administration (SSA):

Social Security benefits may be available to the spouse or children of deceased service members. The amount paid will be determined by the Social Security Administration.

1-800-772-1213
Expedited Claim Unit, 1-866-777-7887
http://www.ssa.gov

Internal Revenue Service (IRS):

Certain VA survivor benefits are tax exempt. To learn more, please visit
http://www.irs.gov

National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs:

The national body coordinating the individual State Departments of Veterans Affairs. Visit the NASDVA website to link to your state DVA and learn about what individual survivor benefits your state may be providing.
NASDVA

National Archives:

The National Archives are responsible for the stewardship of military service records of veterans that have previously served in our nations armed forces. Please visit the National Archives to obtain copies of your loved one's DD-214, DD-1300, and other important information.
Visit The National Archives

Department of Labor:

The Department Labor offers a variety of services to veterans, their families, and their survivors.  To learn more about what DOL is able to do for survivors, please review this presentation, or click here for the DOL web site.

Non-governmental Organizations*

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS):

TAPS is a nationwide not for profit organization that offers peer support and other services for surviving family members of deceased veterans and service members that pass while on active duty.
For more information, please visit: www.TAPS.org

Gold Star Wives of America:

Gold Star Wives Of America, Inc. is an organization of military widows/widowers whose spouse died while on active duty or from service connected disabilities. GSW offers support and service opportunities to its membership.
For more information, please visit: www.goldstarwives.org

American Gold Star Mothers:

AGSM is an organization offering support and other services to mothers/parents that have lost a child in active military service or who passed from a service connected disability.
For more information, please visit: www.goldstarmoms.com

The American Widow Project:

The American Widow Project is an online community offering support, information and a means to interact with other surviving military widows.

For more information, please visit: www.americanwidowproject.org

American War Mothers:

The American War Mothers offer support and service to their members.
To learn more, please visit www.americanwarmoms.org

Veterans Widow/ers International Network (VWIN):

VWIN is a survivors advocacy group working on issues that relate specifically to survivors of deceased veterans.
To learn more, please visit www.vetsurvivors.com

National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO):

NACVSO works to promote and protect the rights of veterans and their dependents through education, communication and technology.
For more information, please visit: www.nacvso.org

National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS):

NAUS is an advocacy group working on issues related to active duty service members, veterans, their families and their survivors.
To learn more about NAUS, please visit www.naus.org

Military Officers Association of America (MOAA):

MOAA is an advocacy group working on issues related to active duty service members, veterans, their families, and their survivors.
To learn more about MOAA, please visit www.moaa.org

Reserve Officers Association (ROA):

ROA is an advocacy group working issues related to the US Military Reserves. ROA also advocates on behalf of survivors and may offer information that you will find useful.
To learn more, please visit www.roa.org

Disabled American Veterans (DAV):

DAV is an advocacy group and community working on issues related to the disabled veteran community, their families and their survivors. In addition, DAV provides extensive services and opportunities to volunteer.
To learn more, please visit www.dav.org

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW):

VFW is an advocacy group and community working on issues that relate to veterans, active duty military, their families and their survivors. VFW provides services as well as opportunities to volunteer.
To learn more, please visit www.vfw.org

American Legion:

The American Legion is an advocacy group and community that offers services and volunteer opportunities.
To learn more, please visit www.legion.org