The Bureau of Labor Statistics data reveal a drop of 3% in preventable deaths for the year 2023, from 4,695 in 2022 to 4,543 in 2023. The death rate indicated a decline of 6%, from 3.2 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2022 to 3.0 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2023. The figures indicate that more than 1,620 accidents with fatalities occurred in the transport and material moving sector, which is nearly a third of all workplace deaths.
But the hardest thing for a family to bear is the loss of a loved one. On top of the emotional pain, there are also financial worries that come after such a loss. Many people think death benefits only cover lost wages, but they can do more than that.
Death benefits may also help with funeral costs and medical bills and even provide support for dependents left behind. According to death benefits lawyer Christa Sumwalt, you could be prevented from filing a workers’ compensation death benefits claim if your loved one died as a result of an intentional violation of workplace safety regulations and they were working while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Let’s learn what death benefits can provide beyond lost income and how they can bring families some peace of mind during such a difficult time.
Understanding Death Benefits: An Overview
You must understand death benefits’ nature, purpose, and how they can help your family after you die. These benefits provide financial security so that the family can maintain its standard of living during a terribly hard period.
Death benefits compensate for lost wages, replacing the family’s previously dependent income. The money you obtain from death benefits can cover everyday expenses, placing fewer burdening thoughts on the grieving family and helping them concentrate on recovery.
One subset of the employees’ benefits and legal rights is death benefits. To tackle these benefits is not easy, especially in cases such as assessing who qualifies for them or demonstrating that a worker’s death was due to his/her job. According to The Law Office of Briana Kim, a lawyer can help you understand your legal options, explain your rights under employment and workers’ compensation laws, and guide you through the process of filing or appealing a claim to reach a fair resolution.
Understanding the range of death benefits offered can instill in you peace of mind, reassuring you that you are relieving those you really care about. Death benefits become a major factor in your legacy, which in turn creates belonging and support in the lives of your loved ones.
Funeral and Burial Expenses
Several death benefits extend far beyond lost income and funeral and burial expenses, which can be very financially demanding.
The costs linked to funerals, such as coffins and tributes, accumulate rapidly after someone’s death. Death benefits offer you relief from these kinds of expenses. When the family receives such protection, they can focus on mourning the dead and recalling the happy moments together rather than worrying about their creditors.
Protection causes a feeling of togetherness, letting you celebrate your loved one’s life with no additional concerns.
Support for Dependents
Providing support for dependents is one of the main concerns people usually have following the death of a loved one.
Death benefit fills that gap financially by setting apart some money to allow your dependents to continue with their life activities even after your passing. In most cases, death benefits are for necessary supplies, such as shelter, food, and medicine.
You need to understand what death benefits you may be eligible for as you decide for the future of your family.
Educational Benefits for Children
Death benefits offer reassurance that the education of one’s children will uninterruptedly continue in case of the person dying or losing a loved one. Death benefits also protect the family against any wrongful death expenses, funeral costs, or tuition fees that a family member might incur. Educational benefits include reduced costs applied to tuition, fees, and sometimes extracurricular activities that lessen the burden of finances on your family.
These benefits after death can entail scholarships or grants of financial assistance to satisfy a child’s educational interests. This allows your children to continue schooling without any financial worries or other unnecessary distractions.
To support these educational advantages is to honor the departed while investing in their children’s future. Such resources may create a sense of belonging and community. Your family might handle the journey cooperatively with hope and support.
Additional Considerations and Resources
Acknowledge your emotional pain and take practical steps to sort everything that needs sorting after losing a loved one. As these issues require attention, avoiding them can affect not just the immediate family but also the entire family unit.
Participate in support group programs or counseling services, which may have excellent assistance to offer. Call for help to get financial planning and legal advice in the areas of benefits and estate issues.
Learn about other organizations available in your community that offer grief support or provide financial relief loans that provide continued support as you work on managing your investments.
Interactions with others who had similar experiences can create a feeling of belonging, provide a few ways to remember your loved one, and secure your family’s future.