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A Helpful Guide For Those Who Have Lost A Loved One
We hope this information will be a source of reference for you during and after the funeral or memorial services for your loved one. This information is not a subsitute for the professional and personal services you will receive from our staff, but it should serve as a reference.
Death Certificates
Marcus D. Brown Funeral Home originates the death certificate by filling in the vital statistics, which you were asked to provide during the initial home visit or consultation by our funeral director. The death certificate is then taken to the doctor or coroner for signature and cause of death. After the death certificate is completed by the certifier, it is then taken to the Vital Records Office of the Anderson County Health Department to be certified. The funeral home will obtain the certified copies for the family within 10 days, unless the cause is undetermined.
Common reasons for needing a certified death certificate:
Life Insurance
Veteran's Benefits
Probate Court
State and Federal Tax Returns
Individual Stocks/Bonds
Bank Accounts
*There may be other reasons for needing certified copies |
Life Insurance
Pre-funded funerals made through Marcus D. Brown Funeral Home can be handled without the need for generating paperwork on behalf of the survivors of the deceased. Whether you are paying for the funeral expesnses with life insurance or other means, we can assist you in the filing of insurance policies. If funeral expenses are paid with life insurance we will need to take an assignment for the total amount of the funeral bill.
Information Needed:
certified death certificate
insurance policy or policy number
beneficiary to sign claim form and/or assignment
social security number and date of birth of beneficiary
review debts for credit life insurance
other insurance that may cover outstanding balances on credit accounts
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Probate Court
What is probate? Probate is the legal process through which the assets of a deceased person are distributed to the heirs or beneficiaries. South Carolina law provides that Probate Court has original jurisdictoin in probate and administration of the decedent's estate. We encourage you to probate the estate as soon as possible. Many people fear the task of settling as estate, therefore, we are here to assist you in probating the estate.
Social Security
Marcus D. Brown Funeral Home will submit a Social Security Form 721 informing the Social Security Administration that your loved one has passed away. Social Security survivor's benefits help ease the financial burden that follows a worker's death. Almost all children under the age of 18 will receive a monthyly benefit if a working parent dies. Other family members may be eligible for benefits also.
Anyone who has worked and paid Social Security (FICA) taxes has been earning benefits for his/her family.
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In addition to the monthly benefits, 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 no spouse, the benefits may be paid to an eligible child or children. This payment cannot be made if there is no eligible spouse or child. You can apply for benefits by telephone, 1-800-772-1212 or by calling your local Social Security Office.
Social Security Adminnistration
3420 North Main Street
Anderson, SC 29621
(864)225-6955
This list below are some items you may need to take to the office at your time of appointment with a Social Security Representative:
your social security card or number
deceased social security card or number
death certificate
your birth certificate
marriage certificate
children's birth certificate and social security card or number
bank information if you want direct deposit of benefits
If the deceased was receiving benefits, any check which may arrive after death, will need to be returned to the Social Security Office. If the check was deposited directly into an account, please notify your bank.
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Veteran's Administration
The staff of Marcus D. Brown Funeral Home or the local VA office can assist you in completing the necessary forms for the veteran's burial allowance. The Veteran's Administration determines what amount, if any, will be paid. Contact the nearest VA office to apply for other benefits.
Veterans Affairs
107 South Main Street
Anderson, SC 29621
(864) 260-4036
VA Regional Office: 1(800)827-1000
The following information is required:
Certified DD214-Report of Seperation
Marriage license
Death Certificate
Divorce Decree
Birth certificate of dependants
Veteran Administration Allowances
Basic Burial Allowance
An amount not exceeding $300.00 for expenses of burial and funeral expense of the deceased veteran. The term burial includes all the recognized methods of interment, including cremation, burial at sea, etc.
Plot or interment allowance
The term interment, as used in this form, is synonymous with burial and is defined the same. The term plot means the final disposal site of the remains and includes a grave, mausoleum vault, columbarium niche, or similar place. An additional allowance not exceeding $150.00 for incurred expenses of interment or plot when the interment or burial was not made in a national cemetery or other cemetery under the jurisdiction of the United States.
Eligibility for basic burial allowance and plot allowance:
Receipt of pension or compensation
Had an original or reopened claim for pension or compensation pending and is found entitled from a date prior to date of death
Died while traveling under prior authorization or while institutionalized by the VA
Burial Allowance for Service Connected Death
When the veteran's death occurs as the result of a service connected disability, an amount not exceeding $1,500.00 may be paid in lieu of the $300.00 basic burial allowance and the $150.00 interment and plot allowance.
Transportation Cost
The cost of transferring the body to the place of burial may also be paid in addition to the allowances when the veteran died of a service connected disability or had a compensation service disability and burial is in a national cemetery.
Standard Government Marker
Any deceased vteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable are eligible for a cemetery memorial.
Benefits provides one of the following:
Granite Marker
Bronze Marker
Bronze niche Marker
However, Installation is to be paid using private funds by the family.
United States Flag
The flag is issued for all honorably discharged veterans providing a DD-214.
Military Rites
Rites are provided for all honorably discharged veterans providing a DD-214.
Crime Victim's Assistance
Reimbursment of funeral expenses up to $4,000.00 in cases where the death was due to a homicide.
Victim-Witmess Advocate
Tenth Circuit Solicitor
100 South Main Street
PO Box 8002
Anderson, SC 29622
(864)260-4279
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