1. What do I do when a death occurs?
Most deaths occur in health care institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes. When a person is checked into a health care institution the question is usually asked which funeral home is the families choice. If the death occurs outside of a health care institution the first task is to notify either the authorities or if under Hospice care your Hospice associate. They will then after arriving guide you through your next actions.

As well as escorting the remains of the deceased and preparing them for final disposition, the funeral home can help you with:

• Obtaining certified copies of the death certificate
• Completing the relevant form for Social Security
• Informing all the people and organizations who need to be informed
• Making arrangements for and conducting the funeral or memorial service
• Deciding on whether you want memorial gifts to be made on behalf of the deceased, and whether they should go to a hospice, charity, church or school.
• Deciding on the disposition of flowers after the funeral
• Many other choices and decisions related to this trying time for your family

Most people are reluctant to ask a funeral establishment for the consumer information they would expect from any other service provider. Be aware that every funeral home is required by law to provide you information, including price information, over the telephone. If a firm is hesitant or unhelpful you may wish to search for one that will satisfy you.

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2. What do I bring to the funeral home when making arrangements?
You will need to bring several things with you to the funeral home for the initial arrangement conference, assuming you have them available:

• The deceased person's social security number
• Military service history summary form (DD214)
• Any deed for a cemetery plot or other such paperwork
• Any notes or special requests made by the deceased
• Insurance policies
• The arrangement conference can be an emotionally stressful duty. You may also wish to bring along family members or a close friend whose judgement you can trust, and who can support you while you are making arrangements.
• Finally, bring an open mind. Many people do not have much experience in arranging funerals. They may think they know exactly how funerals work based on one or two experiences in another place many years ago. These days the options for funeral services are much greater, and your original ideas may be only the starting point for a ceremony that can be the most fitting tribute for your loved one.

Also remember, if you do know exactly what you want and the funeral home you first chose is not able to help you, keep an open mind about finding a funeral home that will help.

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3. What are the costs of funeral services?
Becker Funeral Home plans funerals ranging from simple to elaborate, with pricing to match. We package many of our services to offer a savings to families, but also offers itemized pricing for those families that do not want a package. We provide to every family that we care for or any family that requests a General Price List. Funeral costs can for the most part be placed into four categories:

• The merchandise purchased for the funeral, such as caskets and memorial folders
• The professional services of the funeral director, who handles the details of the funeral service
• The use of the funeral home, equipment and staff
• The transportation required for the funeral

It is important to realize that within each of the categories, there are choices you may make based on the deceased's wishes for the funeral and your budget.

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4. What is a funeral?
A funeral is a gathering of family and friends who come together to honor the memory of a loved one who has passed away. Similar to other rituals which mark other transitions in life, such as baptisms, weddings and graduations, funerals provide a time for family and friends to celebrate the life of a loved one and share their feelings concerning the loss of this person in their lives.

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5. Why have a funeral?
Funerals, like other significant events in our lives, serve a valuable function by providing a time and place for commemorating and the acknowledging the life of an individual who has died. Funerals confirm and reinforce the reality of death, assist in the expression of grief and feelings of loss, begin the process of reintegrating the bereaved back into the community, and convey our values and beliefs regarding the meaning of life and death. Funeral s may be unique as the individual whose life they celebrate. Becker Funeral Home can provide many suggestions and options for ensuring that a funeral, for a loved one, truly honors and celebrates the life that was led, because - Every life has a story to tell...

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6. What if I want cremation?
Cremation is being chosen by many of the families that we serve as the final disposition of a loved one. A cremation service can still contain the same elements of a burial or the arrangements can be as simple as you wish. For cremation there can be services ranging from having a visitation and a service, to only a memorial service or even just a small gathering for family and close friends.

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7. Why is viewing the deceased important?
Permitting family and friends to view the body of the deceased at a visitation or during the funeral service can be a valuable experience. The most important reason for viewing the body is to help people accept the reality of the death that has occurred. An important part of the grieving process if the acceptance of loss, and viewing the body may be a way to help survivors begin toward this acceptance, and start the process of healthful grieving. A funeral director will discuss the option of viewing the body with the immediate family when services are being planned. The family may choose whether the casket is to be open or closed during the public visitation and funeral. Insisting that a person, especially a child, view the body is not recommended. It should be a personal choice. Viewing the body can be an important part of the funeral experience. Talk with your funeral director about your thoughts and concerns, so that they might help you reach an understanding of what choices would be best for your family.

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8. What will I need Certified Copies
of the Death Certificate for?
There are many instances where a Certified Death Certificate is going to be required. We have provided a list to help you determine the number you might need.

• Financial Information
• Checking, savings, trust or money market accounts
• Annuities
• Certificates of Deposit
• IRAs
• Mortgage/Personal Loans
• Mutual Funds
• Pension Funds
• Stocks and Bonds

Please remember since most banks differ in their policies, it is suggested that an individual contact his/her financial institution(s) for its requirements.

Real Property
All real properties should be expeditiously and properly transferred. Becker Funeral Home recommends that you to do so with competent professional assistance to safeguard his/her interests and assets.

Vehicle Title Transfer
Transfer of title is needed for all motorized vehicles. All forms and title transfers can be done at the Department of Motor Vehicles, or at a local tag agency within the county. We recommend that an individual call one of the facilities in advance for documentation requirements.

Insurance
To claim entitled insurance benefits, the following documentation is required:
q A Certified Copy of the Death Certificate for each insurance Company
q Claim form signed by beneficiary

Becker Funeral Home will assist in claiming life insurance benefits of the insured deceased. In certain instances you can assign the insurance proceeds to pay the funeral expenses.

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9. Death Benefits
At Becker Funeral Home, we consider it our responsibility to help families receive all of the benefits they deserve from the U.S. Government. We can assist you in filing for Social Security Benefits, Veteran's Benefits or Railroad Retirement.

Social Security Benefits

• Who can get survivor benefits?
• Widows and widowers age 60 or older
• Widows and widowers at any age if caring for the deceased's child(ren) who are under the age of 16 or disabled
  
• Divorced wives and husbands age 60 or older, if married to the deceased 10 years for more
  
• Widows, widowers, divorced wives, and divorced husbands age 50 or older if they are disabled
  
• Children up to age 18
  
• Children age 18-19, if they attend elementary school of high school full time
  
• Children over age 18, if they became disabled before age 22
  
• The deceased worker's parents age 62 or older, if they were being supported by the worker

A Special One-time Payment

• In addition to the monthly benefits for family members, a one-time payment of $255.00 can be paid to a spouse who was living with the worker at the time of death. If there is none, it can be paid to:
  a) A spouse who is eligible for benefits
  b) A child or children eligible for benefits
  This payment cannot be made if there is no eligible spouse or child.

How to apply for benefits?

• You can apply for benefits by telephone or by going to any Social Security office. You may need some documents shown on the list below, but do not delay your application because you do not have a document you need. Social Security can help you get it.

Information Needed
a) Your Social Security number and the deceased worker's Social Security number
b) A death certificate. (Becker Funeral Home provides a statement to Social Security that replaces this requirement)
c) Proof of the deceased worker's earnings for last year. (W-2 forms or self-employment tax return)
d) Your birth certificate.
e) A marriage certificate, if you are applying for benefits as a widow, widower, divorced wife, or divorced husband.
f) A divorce decree, if you are applying for benefits as a divorced wife or husband. Children's birth certificates and Social Security numbers, if applying for children's benefits.
g) Your checking account or savings account information, if you want direct deposit of your benefits.

You will need to submit original documents or copies certified by the issuing office. You can mail or bring them to the office, Social Security will make photocopies and return your documents.

For More Information

• For more information, write or visit your local Social Security office, 118 E. Main St., Leesburg, FL 34748 or call (352) 787-2624 or call toll free (800) 772-1213. There is also a link to the Social Security web-site of our links and resources page.

A Reminder

• If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, any checks which arrive the month following the month of death, will need to be returned to the Social Security office. If Social Security checks were being directly deposited into a bank account, the bank needs to be notified of the death.

Veteran's Burial Allowances

What is a VA Burial Allowance?
A VA burial allowance is a partial reimbursement of an eligible veteran's burial and funeral costs. When the cause of death is not service-related, the reimbursement is generally described as two payments:
(1) a burial and funeral expense allowance, and (2) a plot interment allowance.

Who is eligible?
You may be eligible for a VA burial allowance if:

• You paid for a veteran's burial or funeral AND
• You have not been reimbursed by another government agency or some other source, such as the deceased veteran's employer AND
• The veteran was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met:

• The veteran died because of a service related disability OR
• The veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death OR
  
• The veteran was entitled to receive VA pension or compensation but decided not to reduce his/her military retirement of disability pay OR
  
• The veteran died in a VA hospital or while in a nursing home under VA contract, or while in an approved state nursing home.

How much does the VA pay?
Service related death. VA will pay up to $1500.00 toward burial expenses for deaths prior to September 10, 2001. For deaths after September 11,2001, VA will pay $2000.00. If the veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost of moving the deceased may be reimbursed.

Nonservice related death.
VA will pay up to $300.00 toward burial and funeral expenses, and a $150.00 plot interment allowance for deaths prior to December 1, 2001. The plot-interment allowance is $300.00 for deaths on or after December 1, 2001. If the death happened while the veteran was in a VA hospital or under contracted nursing home care, some or all of the costs for transporting the deceased's remains may be reimbursed.

Other Veterans Burial Benefits.

• Burial in a VA National Cemetery
  1. Most veterans and some dependents can be buried in a VA national cemetery.
• Headstone and Markers
  1. The VA will furnish a monument to mark the unmarked grave of an eligible veteran.
• Burial Flag
  1. The VA will provide an American flag to drape an eligible veteran's casket.

There is a link to the Department of Veterans Affairs web-site located on our Links page.

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10. Who must I tell when a death occurs?
When a death occurs you will need to notify the deceased person's family members and close friends as well as their employer/business colleagues, school/college and any associations they were affiliated with. This is easiest done by telephone.

Try to get a family member to help you, and keep a record of all calls made and received.

Keep a list of everyone who sends flowers, writes, calls, etc. and decide who will acknowledge them.

Contact the deceased person's bank. This is especially important if receipts such as Social Security checks are deposited automatically, or if mortgage payments and such are made directly from the account.

You will need to find the deceased person's will and notify their lawyer and/or executor, and also inform any insurance companies. There may be income for survivors to come from insurance policies, or from credit of trade unions, fraternal organizations, the military, etc.

Check for any outstanding debts, such as credit card bills. Some insurance policies may take care of them, but even so you may need to ask for an extension on payments which are coming due to tide you over until the insurance money is paid.

Where appropriate contact the deceased person's landlord, cancel utilities such as electricity and telephone, and give the post office a forwarding address for mail.

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11. How to talk to children about death

• For example, saying a dead person is "asleep" will not only mislead a child, but may also cause the child to believe that the dead person might "wake up" again.
  
• Don't use euphemisms. Remember, children can cope with what they know. They cannot cope with that they don't know.
  
• Use simple, concrete language. Young children are very literal. Try not to use abstract or complex words.
  
• Don't over explain. While children deserve developmentally-appropriate explanations about death, they don't need War and Peace. Be brief. Let the child's natural curiosity, not your need to be understood guide your discussions.
  
• Show them. Children often don't understand something until they can see it. You will not harm them, for example, by showing them the ashes from a cremation or caskets in the selection room.

These are from the book, Funeral Home, Customer Service, by Alan D. Wolfelt, PH.D.

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12. Should children attend funerals?
The death of a loved one can be a very confusing and challenging experience for a child. Attendance of the funeral may be helpful for the child to realize the finality of death, and also allows the child to share the emotional experience with the family. However do not insist that they attend. Let the child express sorrow their own way and do not force ideas on them, such as grieving or funeral attendance. Talk with the child, prepare them for the experience and answer any questions they might have. Becker Funeral Home has many brochures that can help you answer questions children might have.

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13. What should you do after the funeral?
After the funeral, several items will still require attention. Most of them, fortunately, can be reasonably postpones until you feel ready.

• Thank you notes - As soon as possible, write notes of thanks to those who offered help, such as bearing the casket and assisting in the service. Those who sent flowers or contributed to a charity in your loved ones name. Becker Funeral Home can provide you with cards of thanks.
  
• Handling of letters and calls - You will receive mail and phone calls for the deceased for some time. Try not to let these become upsetting. Remember some people may not have been informed.
  
• Monuments - A monument or marker can be installed shortly after the funeral, or you can postpone this decision. Every cemetery has differing rules and regulations in concern to monuments. Becker Funeral Home can help provide you information on where to purchase your monument.
  
• Personal possessions - When the deceased's house or apartment is vacated, survivors are often left with substantial personal belongings. Although sometimes difficult, this task should be performed by close family members with the executor's or administrator's prior consent. Family members will recognize items of sentimental value of other personal significance. After the family's careful review, often unwanted items remain. These items can be given to a charitable organization that can out them to good use.

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