The casualty assistance representative will also need to verify the accuracy of the family information in Department of Defense records. It is his or her job to confirm the status of all known family members, including the marital status of the deceased service member, any previous marriages, divorce decrees, and child custody orders. Casualty assistance representatives will not request sensitive personal data such as Social Security numbers, birth dates, or banking information over the phone. Your casualty assistance representative may ask for copies of important documents. Without these documents benefits may be delayed or denied.

It is especially important to identify all the service member’s children. Occasionally a service member has not identified all children on the Record of Emergency Data. Please, don’t be offended if your casualty assistance representative asks you whether a loved one was married before and if there are any children from that or other relationships. Also, he or she will want to know if the deceased service member was known by a name other than the given name, such as a nickname, middle name, or maiden name.

Because of federal law and individual service member elections, it is possible that the Primary Next-of-Kin (PNOK), the Person Eligible to Receive Personal Effects (PERE), and the Person Authorized to Direct Disposition of Human Remains (PADD) are the same person. It is equally possible that they could be three different people; therefore, each designation will be fully explained to you.

Your casualty assistance representative will schedule a follow-up visit soon after the initial visit. There will be as many follow-up visits as necessary. Depending on your Service, you may also meet with a mortuary affairs officer. During these meetings you will discuss payment of the death gratuity, preparation for the funeral, any honors due to your loved one, and any questions you may have.