XI.i.1.A
Section summaries · M21-1 Part XI
Control the death report, then identify every survivor benefit.
Part XI covers death processing, survivor referrals, month-of-death payments, accrued benefits, substitution, burial, and memorialization.
19 of 19 section summaries shownXI.i.1.B
Death/MOD system updates
Update the correct systems with verified death, payee, award, and month-of-death information; reconcile mismatched records.
Read the captured Part XI source →XI.i.1.C
Death-processing errors
Correct erroneous death entries or award actions promptly, restore benefits when required, and notify affected parties.
Read the captured Part XI source →XI.i.1.D
Non-Veteran beneficiary death
Verify the beneficiary’s death and adjust or terminate the affected dependent/survivor/fiduciary payment correctly.
Read the captured Part XI source →XI.i.2.A
Casualty reports
Process official casualty information as controlled evidence of status/death and route associated survivor actions.
Read the captured Part XI source →XI.i.2.B
Finding/date of death
When death facts are uncertain, develop disappearance/circumstances and make the required formal finding and date determination.
Read the captured Part XI source →XI.i.2.C
Presumption of death
Apply the statutory time/circumstance standard, development, administrative finding, and effective-date consequences.
Read the captured Part XI source →XI.ii.1
Survivor-benefit referral
Identify potential DIC, survivor pension, accrued, substitution, burial, MOD, and ancillary benefits and refer/develop the proper claims.
Read the captured Part XI source →XI.ii.2
Month-of-death benefit
Determine eligible surviving spouse, payment status, amount already issued, and correct MOD payment/recoupment action.
Read the captured Part XI source →XI.ii.3.A
Accrued entitlement
Identify the eligible accrued claimant, timely claim, benefits due and unpaid, and evidence legally in the file at death.
Read the captured Part XI source →XI.ii.3.B
Substitution
Determine eligibility and timeliness for substitution, then preserve the correct review lane. Use the prescribed Substitution Calculator for the remaining review period and common accrued deadline; its exceptions and PMC upload requirement still apply.
Reviewed changes and handling notes · 2026-09-06
The substitution deadline procedure now specifies the Substitution Calculator. Eligibility, the remaining-time principle, and the separate limits of the chosen review lane remain in place.
- XI.ii.3.B.3.a, Steps 1–3: Use the Substitution Calculator linked in the source. Choose its 365 Days tab, or LEAP YEAR–366 Days when the original decision-review period includes February 29. Use its results for the substitute’s review deadline and the common accrued-benefit filing deadline. A deadline falling on a weekend or holiday moves to the next succeeding workday.
- XI.ii.3.B.3.a, Important: The calculator does not determine accrued filing limits under 38 CFR 3.1001 or 3.1003; consult XI.ii.3.C.1.e for those cases. Pension management centers must use and upload a copy of the Substitution Calculator to the claims folder. The linked calculator is a separate resource and is not embedded in this HTML file.
- XI.ii.3.B.3.b–d: Substitution does not open the evidentiary record for higher-level review. Check the required AMA form and the posture of the deceased claimant’s matter. Updated references include X.ii.2.A.1.a, XI.ii.3.E.16 (including .m for EP disposition), and XI.ii.3.C.5.a for missing forms.
Review covers the changes and their effect on existing guidance. It does not establish a complete decision path for this article.
Read captured manual article · Official article ↗XI.ii.3.C
Accrued/substitution development
Develop relationship, eligibility, expenses/priority, pending-claim status, and evidence permitted for accrued versus substitution.
Read the captured Part XI source →XI.ii.3.D
Rate accrued claims
Decide the issues pending at death using the applicable accrued record, periods, evaluations, and effective dates.
Read the captured Part XI source →XI.ii.3.E
Accrued authorization/notice
Calculate due-and-unpaid benefits, apply payee priority/expense limits and offsets, authorize, and notify all affected claimants.
Read the captured Part XI source →XI.ii.4
Death gratuity certificates
Verify the qualifying service-connected death determination and issue the required certificate to the service department.
Read the captured Part XI source →XI.iii.1.A
Burial—general
Identify claimant, expense/payment responsibility, death/service facts, claim timeliness, and the burial allowance sought.
Read the captured Part XI source →XI.iii.1.B
Burial benefits
Determine eligibility for service-connected/non-service-connected burial, plot/interment, and transportation benefits under each rule.
Read the captured Part XI source →XI.iii.1.C
Burial authorization/payment
Calculate the correct allowance, payee, reimbursement limits, offsets, effective rules, and notice.
Read the captured Part XI source →XI.iii.1.D