SURVIVORS
SBP INFORMATION FOR SURVIVORS & GUARDIANS

Surviving Spouses and Children
Information for surviving spouses and children of a Soldier with a line of duty (LOD) death.

Guardian of Surviving Children
Information for the guardians of the children of a Soldier with a line of duty (LOD) death.

Survivors of a Retired Soldier
Information for surviving spouses of a Retired Soldier.
BENEFITS & RESOURCES

The official website for Arlington National Cemetery.
Surviving spouses and children of active and Retired Soldiers are eligible for financial assistance through AER’s Survivor Assistance Program. Assistance is provided as grants, and monthly stipends may be available for the most in-need.
- Army Casualty & Mortuary Affairs Operations Division (CMAOD) – CMAOD assists families and the many dedicated professionals trying to aid those families in the emotionally stressful time of bereavement. To report a Retired Soldier's death, call 1-800-626-3317 or, from overseas, call collect 502-613-3317.
- Army Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) – Army SOS is the official Army program designed to provide long-term support to families of fallen Soldiers.
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service offers a downloadable checklist that outlines how to report a death and the steps to take after the death is reported.
This website from the National Archives can help you request military service records and replace lost medals and awards.
Find information about how the Survivor Benefit Plan works and what surviving families need to know about their SBP benefits.
- VA Benefits for Spouses, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers - Find out what benefits you may be eligible to receive from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a spouse or dependent child of a veteran or service member (including health care, life insurance, or money for school), the survivor of a veteran or service member (including help with burial costs and survivor compensation), or a veteran caregiver.
- VA Burial and Memorial Benefits – The National Cemetery Administration’s website can assist you with information on VA national cemeteries and other veteran burial benefits.
- VA Compensation Information – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides a variety of benefits and services for veterans, their dependents and survivors, including service-connected compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), special monthly compensation, and additional housing and insurance benefits to veterans with disabilities.
- Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) Program – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs DEA program (or Chapter 35) can help spouses and children of veterans or service members who have died, are captured or missing, or are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability pay for school or cover expenses while you’re training for a job.