Key topics

Organizations aligned with our Survivor & Gold Star Family Resource Network are focused on supports for survivors of service members and veterans, including Gold Star family members. Participants in this network build community, social support, and connections to ensure survivors have access to timely and relevant information, resources, benefits, and services.

• Ensuring survivors have a community of support and know where to turn for help, social support, and referrals, and encouraging information sharing, inclusion, and coordination of services to support survivors

• Identifying issues involving access, eligibility, and gaps in services and benefits available to survivors and forming affinity groups as needed to organize and facilitate community summits on relevant topics and identify resources and programs

• Ensuring summits include discussion of relevant information on topics as they relate to survivors; creating space for participants who are survivors themselves to share their unique perspectives; and sharing opportunities for collaboration, events, and partnerships to encourage broader engagement of survivors

• Referring survivors to the wide range of specialized programs and services available through TAPS, Home Base, VA Vet Centers, and veterans’ services offices in Massachusetts

• Submitting events to the shared calendar using the tag #survivors and other tags so they appear above and on relevant resource or regional pages, including for survivors who are also #caregivers, #spouses, and #families.

Survivor Resource Network Directory

Resources for Survivors & Service Providers

• Survivors are eligible for a range of programs and support offered by TAPS, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, including TAPS support groups.

• Home Base’s Intensive Clinical Program for Families of the Fallen supports survivors navigating grief and co-occurring challenges like post-traumatic stress, depression, or anxiety.

• VA Vet Centers offer Gold Star survivors bereavement counseling regardless of how recent or distant the family member’s loss is.

• Survivors with low incomes may be eligible for MassVets financial benefits; survivors can connect with their local veterans’ agents to apply.

• The Home Base Training Institute offers courses on the Impact of Combat-Related Injury, Illness & Death on Military Children & Families and Suicide Postvention: Survivor Care for Families of Service Members & Veterans.

• PsychArmor offers on demand virtual courses focused on topics related to Survivors.

• OneOp has learning opportunities focused on Survivors and Estate Planning.

• Military OneSource offers information for Survivors, including for Casualty Assistance and Survivor Benefits for Gold Star families.

VA Survivor & Death Benefits

The r/VeteransBenefits subreddit’s Knowledge Base was created by veterans for veterans to help those who wish to help themselves to access the benefits they have earned and are entitled to. The wiki covers just about anything veterans need regarding VA benefits, including information on eligibility and applying for Death Benefits, Life Insurance, and Survivor Benefits.

Impact of the PACT Act on VA Survivor Benefits

The PACT Act offers support for veterans exposed to burn pits, toxins, and airborne hazards; it also impacts an estimated 382,000 survivors of veterans whose deaths may have resulted from toxic exposures.

Survivors can call 800-827-1000 to notify VA of their Intent to File to preserve the earliest effective date (the claim must be filed within a year). Survivors can contact their local veterans’ agent for claims assistance.

The TAPS Casework Team is also available to answer questions and help filing VA claims. Survivors can contact them at 800-959-8277 or visit their PACT Act page to learn more.

Suicide Loss Support

TAPS has supported tens of thousands of military suicide loss survivors by offering hope and connection. TAPS has developed resources and programming that provide compassionate care through an approach to suicide postvention that helps with immediate stabilization, support with processing grief, and opportunities for healing and growth.