Gold Star & Surviving Family Members

Your service member has died, but that doesn't mean you have lost your ties to your military community. As a surviving family member of an active duty service member, you may be eligible for beneficial services that can help you cope, and support you in rebuilding your life and finding your new normal. The Department of Defense provides immediate and long-term assistance to help you with understanding your benefits, connecting you with grief counseling, finding a financial counselor so you may plan your financial future and more. You're not alone.

Benefits Resources

Submit a Gold Star and Surviving Family Member Inquiry Form.

UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS

Understanding Grief – The Essentials

Survivor Finances and Legal – Essentials

The Final Move – Essentials

Support After Loss – The Essentials

LATEST CONTENT

Honoring Gold Star Families

Nov. 6, 2020, 12:09 a.m. 2 minute read 42,903 views

Gold star families – spouses, children, parents, siblings or others whose loved one died in service to our nation – are a vital part of the nation’s military community and history.

Finding Support After the Death of a Loved One

Nov. 5, 2020, 5:34 p.m. 4 minute read 49,474 views

After the death of a loved one, you may experience a wide range of emotions. That is natural. Finding your new normal after the death of a loved one is not the same for everyone.

Understanding the Role of the Casualty Assistance Officer

Nov. 5, 2020, 5:15 p.m. 3 minute read 52,028 views

In its effort to ensure that military families have support in their time of need when a service member is declared deceased, whereabouts unknown or missing, the Department of Defense’s Casualty Assistance Program assigns a dedicated casualty assistance officer to advise and assist the primary next of kin.

Man helping another man with filing paperwork

Tax Extensions for Survivors

Nov. 5, 2020, 5:10 p.m. 5 minute read 38,568 views

If you’re a survivor of a service member who has died on active duty, you may have the option of taking extra time to file your tax return.

Certification Process Eases for Student Recipients of Survivor Benefit Plan

Nov. 5, 2020, 4:58 p.m. 4 minute read 12,752 views

The certification process has gotten easier for students age 18 and older covered as a child annuitant under the military Survivor Benefit Plan. SBP students now have more time to file their certifications each semester and can file school certification forms online.