• The membership is sponsored by the Relief Societies and is at no cost to the surviving family.
• There will be no sales or product solicitation by AFSC of any nature, now or in the future - strictly service is provided. (Note: AFSC is a service provider and does not sell any products or any type of insurance).
• AFSC's role is to augment and support the military's casualty assistance system, not replace it. Most importantly, after the military casualty assistance representative's service to the family is completed, AFSC continues to further provide service and assistance throughout the remaining lifetime of the surviving spouse.

• The surviving spouse
• The surviving spouse and child(ren)
• Surviving children of active duty members with no surviving spouse, i.e. deceased Service Member was a single parent. (The child(ren) become AFSC members. AFSC will provide the appointed guardian of the surviving child(ren) all needed information and service support.)

• The surviving spouse has a lifetime membership in AFSC.
• The children are serviced by AFSC until they lose dependency status under the rules of Veterans Affairs and/or the military benefits system. (Note: Handicapped children incapable of self-support remain lifetime members)

		Army Emergency Relief Army Emergency Relief Society (AER) sponsors the surviving spouses/children of all Army active duty deaths that occurred on or after November 14, 2002. Click here to download AER Sponsorship Acceptance Form
		Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) sponsors surviving spouses/children of all Navy and Marine Corps active duty deaths that occurred on or after January 1, 2004. Click here to download NMCRS Sponsorship Acceptance Form
		Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) sponsors surviving spouses/children of all Coast Guard active duty deaths that occurred on or after July 1, 2004 Click here to download CGMA Sponsorship Acceptance Form
		Air Force Aid Society Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) sponsors surviving spouses/children of all Air Force active duty deaths that occurred on or after March 1, 2005; and any combat deaths that occurred in the Afghanistan and Iraqi theater of operations. Click here to download AFAS Sponsorship Acceptance Form

• The death must occur while the Service Member was on an active duty status (applies to both on-duty and off-duty deaths as long as the Service Member was on an active duty status).
• Sponsorship applies to all deaths, both combat and non-combat related.
• Surviving spouses/children of National Guardsmen and Reservists who die while on active duty status also qualify for sponsorship

Armed Forces Services Corporation (AFSC) has supported the military community for years and is renowned for our expertise in federal government and military survivor benefits and for the unmatched survivorship services provided to our military members and families. AFSC's staff are experts in survivor and retirement benefits and provide assistance in matters related to military benefits, Social Security (SS), Veterans Affairs (VA), the military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), death gratuity, SGLI, TRICARE, and much more. The service and assistance provided to our members, to the surviving family at the time of our member's death, and throughout the surviving spouse's lifetime are unmatched anywhere in the military or civilian community.

The centerpiece of AFSC services is our unique software program that provides a personalized projection of the family's integrated stream of government and military survivor benefits including changes to the benefit amounts that will occur throughout the surviving family's lifetime. AFSC's software program provides its members easy-to-understand, accurate, and up-to-date projections of their family's survivor benefits. Members find it invaluable as a survivorship-planning tool and find themselves better informed and educated regarding survivor benefits than their non-member counterparts. Its value to surviving spouses is immeasurable in providing timely, complete, and accurate information which leads to their "peace of mind" concerning their financial well-being. Using their software program together with our staff's unparalleled expertise, AFSC stands above all others in our ability to provide peace of mind to our members and families concerning survivorship. No member is ever left without the answers they need and deserve.

• Provide a benefits printout depicting the surviving family's lifetime stream of integrated benefits from Social Security, VA DIC, and SBP, and VA Dependent Education Benefits, as applicable. The printout also reflects lump sum survivor entitlements such as death gratuity, Social Security, & SGLI.
• Answer questions concerning SS, SBP and VA survivor benefits.
• Explain the printout and survivor benefits to the Casualty Assistance Representative and surviving family.
• Assist in notifying any commercial life insurance companies, as needed, and initiating claims process.
• Assist in applying for SBP, VA DIC, Social Security, and other federal government benefits, as needed. (Note: The SBP application is usually accomplished by the military's casualty system but AFSC can assist or answer questions if needed)

• Each year a new survivor benefits printout is mailed to the surviving spouse reflecting that year's projected benefit amounts from SS, VA DIC, & SBP (each annual printout incorporates the new year's Cost Of Living Adjustment, any new laws affecting benefits, expected changes to benefit amounts due to a child attaining age16 or 18, etc).
• Assist the surviving spouse in resolving benefits discrepancies or problems regarding Social Security, VA DIC, or SBP. AFSC will coordinate directly with the government agencies and assist the surviving spouse/child in resolving the problem, as needed.
• Provide notification of new law changes that may affect the surviving family's benefits and provide assistance in filing claims for new benefits, if necessary.
• Provide VA benefits counseling, claims assistance, and representation.
• Provide notification of benefits entitlements upon attainment of age of eligibility; e.g. AFSC sends a letter to the surviving spouse or child's guardian notifying them of their VA Dependents Education Assistance eligibility upon the child's 18th birthday; then assists the surviving spouse or guardian in applying for those benefits as needed.
• Provide an annual newsletter highlighting information and legislation which may affect the family's survivor benefits and military entitlements.
• Most importantly, AFSC'S credentialed and expert Benefits Counselors and VA Counselor are available throughout the spouse's lifetime to answer questions and provide assistance related to the surviving spouse's or children's federal survivor benefits and entitlements.

You may initiate your membership using any of the following methods:

• Call AFSC at 1-888-237-2872. Select Option 5.
• Email AFSC at info@afsc-usa.com
  
• Download, print and complete the appropriate form below and fax it to AFSC at (703)-379-4848
• Download, print and complete the appropriate form below and mail it to: AFSC, 2800 Shirlington Rd, Suite 350, Arlington, VA 22206-3601.