Alternatives to Browsing Each Washington State Agency Website After Your Spouse Dies
DRS, L&I, DSHS, HCA, DOR — each has its own site with no map between them. Here are the practical alternatives for surviving spouses in Washington.
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All articles about Washington Survivor Benefits Navigator.
Best Washington Survivor Benefits Guide When Your Home Pushes You Over the Estate Tax Threshold
Washington's $2.193M estate tax threshold catches middle-class Seattle-area survivors off guard. Here's what actually helps — and when you need a CPA.
Best Washington Survivor Benefits Guide for Spouse of a State Employee
Surviving spouses of WA public employees face DRS pensions, a hard 60-day PEBB deadline, and L&I claims. This guide explains what actually helps.
Best Washington Survivor Benefits Resource for Widow Handling Estate Alone Without a Will
Washington's intestate laws and nonintervention probate powers are surprisingly widow-friendly. Here's what actually helps when there's no will and no attorney.
How to Claim All Washington Survivor Benefits Without Missing the 60-Day PEBB Deadline
Washington survivor benefits span six agencies with incompatible deadlines. Here's how to sequence them correctly so nothing is permanently forfeited.
Washington State Bank Accounts and Asset Transfers After Death
How joint accounts, transfer-on-death accounts, and the DOL Affidavit of Inheritance work in Washington after a spouse dies. Which assets skip probate and which don't.
Benefits for Children After a Parent Dies in Washington State
Washington provides L&I pension supplements, Social Security survivor benefits, and DRS survivor pensions for dependent children after a parent's death. Full breakdown.
Washington Crime Victims Compensation: Death Benefits for Families of Homicide Victims
Washington's Crime Victims Compensation Program pays burial costs, wage replacement, and grief counseling for families of homicide victims. Deadlines and forms explained.
Washington Estate Tax for Surviving Spouses: 2026 Thresholds, Spousal Exclusions, and the 9-Month Deadline
Washington's estate tax threshold is $2.193M for deaths after July 1, 2026. The spousal home exclusion can keep many families below the threshold. Filing and payment rules explained.
Health Insurance After Spouse Dies in Washington: PEBB, Healthplanfinder, and COBRA Options
Death of a spouse triggers a 60-day special enrollment window in Washington. PEBB coverage, Healthplanfinder marketplace plans, and COBRA options explained.
Indigent Burial Assistance in Washington State: County Programs, Veterans Benefits, and What Medicaid Covers
Washington's indigent burial assistance is county-run with a $300 state minimum. Veterans programs, Apple Health exceptions, and how to apply before signing a funeral contract.
Life Insurance Payouts in Washington: Death with Dignity, Suicide Clauses, and the 8% Interest Rule
Washington law protects life insurance payouts when a spouse used the Death with Dignity Act. Suicide exclusion periods, insurer interest penalties, and claim timelines explained.
Washington Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses: Age 57, Income Thresholds, and County Rules
Surviving spouses in Washington age 57+ can inherit a property tax exemption. Income limits vary dramatically by county—King allows up to $113,512, rural counties much less.
Washington Public Employee Survivor Pension: DRS Benefits After a State Worker Dies
How surviving spouses claim DRS pension benefits in Washington—PERS, TRS, LEOFF survivor options, the beneficiary vs. survivor distinction, and key forms.
Social Security Survivor Benefits in Washington: Federal Rules, DRS Interaction, and the GPO Offset
Social Security survivor benefits in Washington are federal, but the Government Pension Offset can reduce them if your spouse had a DRS public pension. Key rules explained.
Washington State Survivor Benefits Checklist: What to Do After a Spouse Dies
Step-by-step checklist for surviving spouses in Washington state—agencies to notify, benefits to claim, and deadlines that cannot be missed.
Washington Survivor Benefits Deadlines: The Dates You Cannot Miss After a Spouse Dies
Critical deadlines for Washington survivor benefits—40-day affidavit wait, 60-day PEBB window, 9-month estate tax due date, 1-year L&I claim limit, and more.
Washington Survivor Benefits Guide vs Financial Advisor: Which Do You Need After Your Spouse Dies?
A financial advisor helps with long-term income planning. A survivor benefits guide handles the deadlines and forms. Most Washington widows need both — in the right order.
Taxes on Survivor Benefits in Washington State: What You Owe (and What You Don't)
Washington has no income tax, so DRS pensions face only federal taxes. But the state estate tax starts at $2.193M. What's taxable, what's exempt, and the spousal home exclusion.
Unpaid Wages After Death in Washington: How Surviving Spouses Collect Without Probate
Under RCW 49.48.120, Washington surviving spouses can claim up to $2,500 from private employers or $10,000 from public employers without opening probate. Here's how.
VA Survivor Benefits in Washington State: DIC, Property Tax Grants, and Burial Rights
Washington surviving spouses of veterans can access VA DIC payments, state property tax grants requiring DD-214, burial in national cemeteries, and education benefits.
Washington State Workers' Compensation Death Benefits: L&I Survivor Pensions Explained
L&I death benefits in Washington pay 60% of the worker's wages as a monthly survivor pension plus an immediate lump sum and burial reimbursement. Full details.