Survivors Checklist

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RNPA SURVIVORS’ INFORMATION

 

Getting into this life required zero paperwork effort on your part.

Such is not the case getting out of this life.

 

Unless, of course, you don’t really care about those you leave behind. RNPA has initiated this guide because of some alarming recent failures of a few members to prepare their survivors even such basic things as an employee number. Some did not even have a will.

The information on these pages is designed to facilitate and simplify the planning and decisions for you as well as simplifying the process for your survivors.

  It is not the intent of the officers or members of RNPA to act as legal counsel or provide legal opinions.

THIS IS NOT A LEGAL DOCUMENT, ONLY A GUIDELINE.

 

 

 

www.dlnet.delta.com

For pilots it is also important to notify the Employee Service Center (ESC) that the deceased was a pilot covered under the Pilot Working Agreement (PWA).

Although the following information is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication, no warrantees are made or implied as to its accuracy. The last portion of this article includes a fill-in-the-blanks section to allow pilots to provide their survivors with essential information. Some of the information included in this document was taken from the Delta Air Lines employee website.

 

  1. Death of a Loved One Guideline

The information that follows was garnered from a variety of sources with the intent of forming a logical step- by-step set of guidelines to assist the retiree or surviving spouse. While it is perfectly normal for the family members left behind to experience a wide range of emotional and physical reactions, there also exists the need to make a lot of important decisions.

One of the first and most difficult decisions confronting the family is the issue of autopsy. In most states, if the death occurred in a care facility

It is important to provide the information on the right for entry to  

www.dlnet.delta.com

For pilots it is also important to notify the Employee Service Center (ESC) that the deceased was a pilot covered under the Pilot Working Agreement (PWA).

Although the following information is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication, no warrantees are made or implied as to its accuracy. The last portion of this article includes a fill-in-the-blanks section to allow pilots to provide their survivors with essential information. Some of the information included in this document was taken from the Delta Air Lines employee website.

 

  1. Death of a Loved One Guideline

The information that follows was garnered from a variety of sources with the intent of forming a logical step- by-step set of guidelines to assist the retiree or surviving spouse. While it is perfectly normal for the family members left behind to experience a wide range of emotional and physical reactions, there also exists the need to make a lot of important decisions.

One of the first and most difficult decisions confronting the family is the issue of autopsy. In most states, if the death occurred in a care facility or at home with a physician monitoring the decedent’s condition, an autopsy is usually not required. Sudden death from unknown causes without a physician in attendance will probably necessitate an autopsy. If the death followed an extensive illness with experimental treatments being employed, facilities like teaching or research facilities may ask permission to do an autopsy in order to advance scientific knowledge.

We strongly suggest that a family member or close friend be appointed by the surviving spouse to notify other immediate family members of the death. The designated family member or close friend should also play a guiding role in helping the surviving spouse with funeral and burial arrangements and, if desired, arranging for an obituary. If someone outside the family is the executor of the estate, that person should be notified at the earliest possible opportunity to review any last wishes of the decedent.

The following checklists have been developed as an aid to make the legal notification and estate transfer process less of a hassle at a time when the family is faced with immense grief and sorrow. The most immediate need that most families face is the question: Where will the money come from to handle final medical and funeral expenses?

 

II.  Check Lists

What To Do When a Retiree Dies

It is important to inform your family members of the steps they should take in the event of your death. Surviving family members may be eligible for benefits including survivor benefits under the Delta Pilots Disability and Survivorship Plan’ (“D&S Plan”), medical benefits and pass travel benefits. It is very important for them to contact the Employee Service Center (ESC) as soon as possible following your death in order

to ensure the timely set up of survivor benefits (if applicable). The ESC may be able to help determine eligibility for life and/or accident insurance coverage which may be payable upon your death.

The information in the following table was taken from the Delta employee website.

STEP WHEN

WHAT TO DO

1

Death of retiree

A surviving family member (or someone on the retiree’s behalf or behalf of the retiree’s estate) should contact the Employee Service Center (ESC) at 1-800-MY DELTA (800-693-3582) to report the death. Follow these steps to reach a survivor benefit representative.

1.       Press “0” to be connected with the Employee Service Center

2.       Press “1” to indicate that the employee number is all numeric.

3.       Enter the nine-digit employee number and press #

4.       Enter the ‘pass eligibility date’ as six digits (in most cases this is the same as the original hire date) and press #

5.       Press “2” for a representative who can assist in answering questions about

survivorship benefits.

2

As soon as

Within five days after the death is reported, the ESC will send a letter of condo- lence to the surviving family member, along with an Income Eligibility Statement and a phone contact list for other companies the survivor may need to contact (i.e. MetLife, Delta Community Credit Union, etc).

A surviving family member should complete the income Eligibility Statement and return the completed form to the ESC with the following documentation so the ESC can determine survivorship eligibility :

•               Death Certificate of the deceased retiree

•               Marriage Certificate (photocopy acceptable) - if applicable

•               Birth Certificate of the deceased retiree, the spouse/domestic partner and dependent children (photocopy acceptable) - if applicable for spouse/do- mestic partner and dependent children

•               Copies of all Social Security Award Letters for spouse/domestic partner and dependent children - if applicable

Send completed Income Eligibility Statement to:

Delta Air Lines, Inc. ESC - Survivor benefits

P.O. Box 52175 Phoenix, AZ 85072

Fax: 1-602-797-6276 (A legible fax of statement is acceptable.)
 

possible after
 

reporting the
 

death

3

As soon as possible after reporting the death

•               If life and/or accident insurance coverage is payable upon the Retiree’s death, file a claim with the appropriate insurance company.

 

•               Basic Life Insurance and Optional Life insurance are administered by the Metropolitan Life lnsurance Company (MetLife). To initiate a claim, call MetLife at 866-492-6983.
   

•               Group Accident insurance and Private Pilots Accident Insurance are administered by Prudential. To initiate an Accidental Death or Dismemberment claim call Prudential at 877-232-3561.

 

4

As soon as possible after receipt of Benefit Enrollment Worksheet

If surviving family members are determined to be eligible for insurance, a Benefit Enrollment Worksheet will be sent in a separateletter approximately two weeks after the death is reported.

 

Call the ESC at 1-800 MY DELTA (800-693-3582) to complete benefit enrollment over the phone.

5

As soon as possible after receipt of the survivorship eligibility letter from the ESC

Generally within 15 days after receiving the completed lncome Eligibility Statement, the ESC will send the surviving family member a survivorship eligibility letter that explains eligibility for applicable survivor benefits, including survivor and/or pension income benefits, information about other benefits and nonrevenue travel privileges.

•               The surviving family members may call the ESC with questions about survivor benefits.

•               The surviving family member may call the ESC for instructions on adding

eligible pass riders.

 

 

 

  1. Doctor, or doctors, of the decedent
  2. All relatives
  3. The stated Executor of the decedent’s estate
  4. Friends
  5. Church or religious organizations
  6. Newspapers for obituary
  7. Funeral home and/or cemetary
  8. Social Security Administration
  9. Other entities that pay penson benefits or annuities.
  10. Brokerage firms, banks and insurance companies
  11. Attorney
  12. Designated recipient of remains donation if applicable

Decide and Arrange:                                                

Select a funeral director and expect to discuss–

  • A burial property (plot), casket and vault
  • Arranging type of service (military, etc.)
  • Deciding the location of service
  • Selecting clergy to officiate
  • Providing information for eulogy
  • Selecting flowers, if desired
  • Arranging for music and visitation
  • Selecting a memorial, if desired
  • Selecting funeral service notes and thank you cards
  • Coordinating any special arrangements in the will
  • Checking and signing the burial or cremation permit
  • Notifying veteran associations
  • Ordering death certificates

 

Collect documents and items:                                  

  1. Deed to burial property
  2. Funeral certifcate
  3. Will or trust documents
  4. Birth certificate or proof of age
  5. Social Security card or number
  6. Marriage License
  7. Insurance policies (life, health, etc.)
  8. Bank books
  9. Safe deposit box keys
  10. Deeds to properties
  11. Titles (or bills of sales) for automobiles
  12. Income tax returns, receipts and check books
  13. Veterans discharge certificate (DD-214)
  14. Disability and pension documents

NOTES

4

 

Death Certificates                                                                                                    Death Certificates are usually ordered by the funeral home. Normally, ten (10) certificates are sufficient.

More should be requested if the decedent had a

complex financial situation where certificates are needed to transfer ownership and control of numer- ous accounts. The Death Certificate is commonly issued by the local Board of Health. Here’s a list of the commonly required items needed to complete a death certificate.

  1. Decedent’s name, home address, and telephone
  2. How long lived in the state
  3. If applicable, name of decedent;s business and address
  4. Social Security number
  5. Date of birth
  6. Place of birth
  7. U. S. Citizenship documents if born in another country
  8. Father’s name
  9. Father’s birthplace
  10. Mother’s maiden name
  11. Mother’s birthplace
  12. Religion (if any)

 

Expect to Pay for the Following:                              

  1. Funeral services
  2. Memorials
  3. Casket, vault, perpetual care
  4. Burial plot, mausoleum, or niche
  5. Burial plot opening and closing
  6. Clergy
  7. Church or temple
  8. Transportaion

Social Security Administration                                

Although the telephone numbers of individual Social Security Administration (SSA) offices are not listed, the SSA website at www.ssa.gov/regions/ has a quick reference list that indicates the location of regional offices. The SSA will need a copy of the Death Certificate in order to stop unearned benefits and establish survivor benefits.

There is a one time death benefit of $255.00.

NOTES

 

IV. Contacts

 

Important Contact Information

Company                                                           Phone                                                                               Alternate Contact Info

 

EMPLOYEE SERVICE CENTER (ESC)

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Easteren Time Monday – Friday, except holidays

 

1-800-MY DELTA

800-693-3582

 

ESC – Survivor benefits

P. O. Box 52175 Phoenix AZ 86072

 

United Health Care

 

877-683-8555

 

www.uhc.com

Life Insurance

Metlife Claim Service Center ALPA Life Insurance

 

866-939-7409

800-746-2572

 

www.metlife.com www.alpa.org

 

Wings Credit Union Delta Credit Union

 

800-692-2274

800-544-3328

 

www.wingsfinancial.com www.deltacommunitycu.com

 

Veterans’ Benefits

Organization                                      Contact                                    General Information

VA Counselor

800-827-1000

Deceased veterans may be entitled to a funeral and burial in a National Cemetery, headstone, foot stone and marker, burial flag, and Presidential Memorial Certificate.

In lieu of burial in a National Cemetery, limited reimbursements may be available for a funeral and burial. A DD-214 form is normally required.

Arlington National Cemetery

703-607-8585

www.arlingtoncemetery. org

Burial in the Arlington National Cemetery with military honors can be arranged for eligible veterans only after the veteran is deceased. A DD-214 form is normally required.

Military pension DFAS

800-321-1080

www.mypay.dfas.mil

If a retired military member (including retired Reservists) has eleclted a Survivor’s Benefit, the surviving spouse may be entitled to that benefit.

Medical benefits Tricare

www.health.mil

The survivor of a retired military member (including retired Reservists) may be entitled to continuing medical benefits under Tricare or Tricare for Life (if over 65).

 

 

 

Estimate of Survivor’s Benefits for eligible spouse:

Estimated

Source                                                       Monthly Benefit       Comments

Pension

    

Military pension

  

If survivor benefit elected

Life insurance annuity

    

Social Security

  

Generally the deceased spouse’s SS payment

Other sources

    

TOTAL

    

 

 

Essential information – fill in the blanks

ü  DOCUMENT                                            LOCATION OF DOCUMENT
 

Advanced Medical directive

  
 

Burial or cremation instructions

  
 

Donation of my remains instructions

  
 

Will

  
 

Power of Attorney

  
 

Trust documents

  
 

Deeds to real property

  
 

Titles to boats, aircraft and autos

  
 

Deed to burial property

  
 

Birth certificate

  
 

Marriage certificate

  
 

Insurance policies

  
 

DD-214

  
 

Pension documentation

  
 

Safe deposit box

  
 

Safe deposit box keys

  

 

I have the following bank, credit union and brokerage accounts:

Institution                  Address                                            Account #                                      Names on account
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

NOTE: If you have automatic withdrawals with any of these         they have away of continuing for months after you ask them to stop. Either changing or closing those accounts will eliminate the potential problem.

The following insurance policies are in effect:

Insurance

company                    Contact                              Policy #            Amount                                      Beneficiary
         
         
         
         
         
         
         

Credit cards to be canceled upon my death:

Credit Card                             Account #                                  Contact
     
     
     
     
     
     

Organizations (universities, churches, clubs, memberships, veterans’ groups, etc.) to be notified of my death:

Organization                                                   Contact
   
   
   
   
   
   

 

Items that I would like to have included in my obituaries: £Contrails £Newspaper £Other                                                                                                                   

Born:                                        Date:                                 Location

Education:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   School or university:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Degree:                                                                                                             Year:

Advanced degree:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               University:                                                                                                       Year

Military service:

Branch:                                                                                                              Years of service:

Highest rank                                                                                                                                          

Commercial flying career:

Airline(s):                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Years of service                                                                                                                                       Aircraft flown:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Total pilot hours:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Other flying activities:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Other employment:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Awards and honors:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Hobbies and interests:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Memberships and activities:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Religious affiliation/church membership:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Additional remarks (or attach another page):