Virginia probate attorneys charge $200-$400/hr. Here are six alternatives for collecting survivor benefits — from free government sites to consolidated guides — and when each works.
When a Virginia state employee or teacher dies, surviving families face VRS pensions, LODA claims, Securian life insurance, and a 60-day health enrollment window no one warns about.
The best Virginia survivor benefits resource for spouses with no attorney or family help. Covers VRS, Commissioner of Accounts, spousal allowances, and MERP.
When a spouse dies in Virginia, you have 60 days to choose between COBRA, ACA marketplace, VRS survivor coverage, or LODA health benefits. Here's how each option works.
Virginia burial assistance includes the Virginia Victims Fund (up to $10,000), DSS General Relief (up to $500), and the $255 SSA death benefit. Here's how to access each.
LODA pays $100,000 to families of first responders killed in the line of duty, plus premium-free health insurance. Learn eligibility, presumptive causes, and how to apply.
Virginia surviving spouses of 100% disabled veterans and first responders killed in duty get a full property tax exemption. Learn eligibility, how to apply, and portability rules.
Virginia surviving spouses and children can claim Social Security survivor benefits as early as age 60. Learn benefit amounts, eligibility rules, and how VRS interacts with SSA.
Comprehensive Virginia survivor benefits checklist with statutory deadlines: VRS, LODA, workers comp, Social Security, property tax exemptions, and burial assistance.
Virginia children can receive Social Security survivor benefits, VRS death benefits, VMSDEP tuition waivers, workers comp, and FAMIS health coverage after a parent's death.
Comparing a Virginia survivor benefits guide against navigating ssa.gov, varetire.org, dmas.virginia.gov, and 120 Circuit Court websites independently.
Comparing a Virginia survivor benefits guide against hiring a probate attorney at $200-$400/hour. When each option makes sense and how to combine them.
Virginia has no inheritance tax and no state estate tax. Learn which survivor benefits are taxable, how VRS pensions are taxed, and what federal rules apply.
Virginia workers comp pays 66⅔% of the deceased's weekly wage for up to 500 weeks, plus burial expenses. Learn eligibility, duration, and how remarriage affects benefits.
VMSDEP covers tuition and fees at Virginia public colleges for dependents of veterans killed or disabled in service. Eligibility, application, and what's covered.
The VRS health insurance credit pays up to $45/month toward premiums for eligible survivors. Learn who qualifies, how to claim it, and the 60-day enrollment deadline.
VRS survivor benefits differ for active members vs. retirees. Learn death-in-service benefits, the statutory order of precedence, and how retirement payout options affect survivors.