Dealing With A Death After A Disaster

Losing a family member is never easy, but a death after a disaster can be especially painful and hard to navigate. At the same time that you are grieving, you will unfortunately also need to deal with all the logistical steps to lay the deceased to rest and ensure the well-being of you and your family. We hope the information below helps take some of the stress off this already difficult process.

Death Certificates

You will need to get a certified copy of the death certificate from the Vital Statistics Office of Texas Health and Human Services. Only immediate family members can request one. If you have another type of relationship with the deceased, you will need to prove it with legal documents like a court order for guardianship.

Funeral Expenses

FEMA’s disaster assistance programs can help with funeral costs for people lost to disasters. Be sure to apply within 60 days of the disaster declaration.

Wages Owed To The Deceased

When an employee dies, their employer will usually not release their last wages and other benefits until a representative of their estate can claim it. If the deceased employee gave their employer a written authorization, the employer may also release the paycheck to the person listed during the next pay cycle or hold onto it until requested.

Unemployment Assistance

If you become the primary breadwinner of your household because of the death of your family member, you might qualify for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). If eligible, you can get up to 26 weeks of unemployment from the date that the president declared a disaster. You can apply for DUA through the Texas Workforce Commission. Note that DUA is not the same as help from FEMA. You will need to apply to both separately.

Life Insurance Claims

You should report the death to your family member’s employer or insurance agent, depending on where they had life insurance. Some employers might also provide death benefits. Note that many policies will require proof of death within a certain time period (i.e. the death certificate).

If you are having trouble finding your family member’s life insurance policy, try using the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ policy locator service. If you cannot find the deceased’s life insurance company, consider searching for them on the Texas Department of Insurance’s (TDI) Insurance Company Lookup page.

Social Security

If you are a dependent family member of an active, retired, or disabled worker who has died, you might be eligible for Social Security benefits. If you already receive benefits, your amount could have changed. The Social Security Administration has a helpful guide where you can learn more.

Veterans’ Benefits

If your family member was a veteran eligible for benefits, you should check in with the Veteran’s Administration. You may qualify for burial funds, survivor’s pension, and bereavement counseling.

Lost Wills

If you lost the original copy of the deceased’s will, contact the lawyer who helped create it. Their copy can be used in court to show that the original was lost and to proceed as the will dictates. If your family member did not have a will, or it can’t be found, the property will pass to the heirs according to state law.