(This article by Kimberly Lankford originally appeared in the April 2025 issue of Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA Premium and Life members. Learn more about the magazine here; learn more about joining MOAA here.)

Military spouses have access to many resources and benefits after their servicemember passes away. If their spouse dies while on active duty, survivors receive personal support to walk them through the administrative process and make sure they receive all the benefits for which they’re eligible.

Each service branch has its own resources for helping surviving spouses. For example, when a sailor dies while on active duty, Navy liaisons provide short-term and long-term assistance.

The casualty assistance calls officer (CACO) helps with initial benefits claims, said Lt. Cmdr. Stuart Phillips, public affairs officer for Navy Personnel Command.

“After CACOs complete their duties, survivor care is turned over to assigned Navy Gold Star coordinators, responsible for long-term case management,” he said. “Coordinators remain in regular contact over the months and years ahead, as long as needed.”

[FROM MOAA: Surviving Spouse Resources and Links]

Surviving spouses of military retirees are eligible for many benefits, and they need to know how to get started and where to find help navigating the system. Here are five key steps surviving spouses should take after their servicemember dies:

Contact the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). Notify DFAS soon after the death so it can suspend retired pay, then send the death certificate as soon as it is available to receive additional benefits, said Lt. Col. Mark E. Overberg, USA (Ret), who retired in August 2024 as the director of Army Retirement Services. You can notify DFAS online. 

You’ll need to fill out more forms to start the annuity payments if you are eligible for the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP).

[FOR MOAA PREMIUM AND LIFE MEMBERS: Preparing for the Loss of a Military Spouse]

Update the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). Go to a DEERS ID card site with a copy of the death certificate. You’ll get a new ID card that will continue to give you access to the commissary, exchange, and other resources on military bases.

Updating the DEERS system updates TRICARE for your military health benefits. You can also mail the death certificate to DEERS.

[RELATED: DoD ID Card Office Locator and Appointments]

Contact TRICARE. Overberg recommends contacting TRICARE directly to update their system and find out how bills will be paid, especially if you aren’t receiving the SBP.

Contact the VA. The VA is the source of many benefits for surviving spouses, such as Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, military burials, and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI). Contact them directly, or get help navigating the process from a veterans service organization. The VA’s Office of Survivors Assistance can help you learn about benefits and resources.

[FOR MOAA PREMIUM AND LIFE MEMBERS: Your Guide to Military Burials]

You might be eligible for overlooked benefits. For example, VGLI beneficiaries can receive financial counseling services, said Lt. Col. Richard A. “Skip” Fleming, USMC (Ret), a MOAA Life member and a certified financial planner who has helped many surviving spouses.

Find Resources: Each branch of service offers different resources to support surviving spouses of military retirees. Visit Military OneSource to find the resources for your service.

[UPDATED MONTHLY: MOAA's Surviving Spouse Corner]

Kimberly Lankford is a financial expert based in Virginia and the spouse of a retired Army colonel.