Minnesota Veteran - Dependent and Survivor Benefits

Information on dependent and survivor benefits. Also see information under the "Families" heading.

Enduring Freedom KIA Fund

Upon application to our organization, and on verification of a death certificate, emergency financial assistance will be provided to widows and widowers of United States military personnel killed in an action performed under the umbrella of Operation Enduring Freedom in a foreign country. The monetary assistance will not be a loan. The assistance will be in the form of a cash grant to those who qualify to the criteria in our policy. There will be first time cash awards to K.I.A. widows and widowers, and in the future, as our available funds grow, there will be additional cash added to the original awards. The board will also consider emergency appeals and hardship cases such as, but not limited to, a K.I.A. widow with a significant number of dependent children.

www.killedinactionfund.org

Operation Ensuring Christmas

Operation Ensuring Christmas provides financial, moral and rehabilitative support to the Children of Fallen American Troops by providing them Christmas Gift Cards during the holidays and a 'Christmas in July' VIP theme park vacation in Orlando, Florida. This support is a token of our respectful appreciation for their sacrifice and to help them recover from the grief and trauma caused by the loss of a parent in war.

Operation Ensuring Christmas was formed with the express purpose of bringing a little extra joy to children who have lost a parent in service to our nation in a time of war. For many of these children it will be their first Christmas without a father or mother.

www.operationchristmas.org

Special Operations Warrior Foundation

The Special Operations Warrior Foundation has information for families about surviving children. It breaks down the information by age group.

www.specialops.org/services.asp

US Dept of Veterans Affairs

Most benefits are the same regardless of whether the service member or veteran died on active duty or during civilian life.  You also will find information from other federal agencies and organizations that offer related benefits and services to survivors and dependents.

www.vba.va.gov/Survivors/