How to Write a Perfect Sales Associate Resume (Examples Included)

How to Write a Perfect Sales Associate Resume (Examples Included)always. be. selling. thats a common motto for anyone in a sales or retail position, but dont forget a very important point of the job hunt it applies to you as well. when youre putting togetzu sich your resume, never forget that if you want to prove how well you can sell, make sure youre absatzwirtschaft yourself as well as you possibly can. lets look at three different kinds of sales professionals one newbie, one seeking seasonal retail employment, and an experienced sales associate looking to become a manager. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1472832672400-0) ) first up laura, whos seeking her first job in retail sales.download this resume in ms wordlike many job hunters with mora enthusiasm than experience (so far), laura wants a resume format that showcases what she already has. this means changing things up a little from the traditional experience + skills + education format, and putting her most relevant skills first.laura has some traditional work experience as a food server, but she wants to showcase her dog walking business, which has skills that could be very transferrable to a sales role. she starts by using the word entrepreneur/entrepreneurial up front, to emphasize her business skills. its important that she uses her bullet points to back that up, and she doesshes very clear that she welches the owner of the dog walking business, and that she was responsible for developing customer relationships, providing good service, and handling her own advertising/marketing. this shows that she is a self-starter without having to spell it out. she also does this with her volunteer experience, showing that she works directly with customers/potential adopters to sell them on adopting pets, using the kinds of skills shed presumably use when talking to customers in her new retail job.lets look at andrea, who has more experience, but is more of a freelance sales associate. shes looking for a part-time sales associate position (back-to-school, holiday season, etc.) to earn money and build experience while she goes to school.download this resume in ms wordandrea is clear on her objectives here shes a student, she has sales experience (specifically in the sales field), and shes not necessarily looking for a careerjust the next opportunity to use her expertise while attending school. her summary section outlines what she sees as her biggest advantages her experience, her reliability, and her product expertise.next, she lists his experience, choosing to focus on the retail experience she already has, so that the reader doesnt have to cut through a bunch of information that isnt necessarily relevant to the immediate goal of finding a part-time gig. for part-time jobs, you want to hit a number of key points in your resumewhat you want.why you want it.what you bring to the table.youre not looking for a forever career, youre looking for a way to turn your skil ls and experience into a job that you can fit in with your life. from that angle, its in lauras (and your) best interest to have a clear, uncluttered resume that hits those points without getting distracted.our final retail resume-writer is felix, whos got a lot of sales associate experience behind her, but wants to jump up a level in the store management food chain.download this resume in ms wordfelixs resume shows an accomplished auto sales professional. but he needs to accomplish two things 1) show his track record of sales and 2) show his capabilities as a team leader. the remainder of his skill bullets are used to show the breadth of his experience. this format, the skills-based resume, is helpful for someone like felix, who wants to emphasize that hes ready to take more of a leadership role. he has a lot of great experience, so he doesnt need to camouflage anything, but he wants to show what hes capable of doingnot just what hes already done. a moving up resume should be a bal ance between those two elements where youve been, and the tools you have to go where you want.looking for a job in sales? thejobnetwork has you covered. search positions in your area for the following sales positions, and morefind retail sales jobsfind part-time sales jobsfind sales management jobsWant more resume templates? Check out the following listHow to Write a Perfect Administrative Assistant Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Barista Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Caregiver Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Cashier Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Certified Nursing Assistant Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Cosmetology Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Construction Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Customer tafelgeschirr Representative Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Customer Service Resume (Examples Included)How to Build a Great Dental Assistant Resu me (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Teaching Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Internship Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Strong Home Health Aide Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Human Resources Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Medical Assistant Resume (with Examples)How to Write a Perfect Occupational Therapist ResumeHow to Write a Perfect Physician Assistant Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Receptionist Resume (Examples Included)How to Create a Perfect Retail ResumeHow to Write a Perfect Sales Associate Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Social Worker Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Truck Driver Resume (With Examples)

75% of High Achievers Come From Troubled Families 6 Lessons We Can Learn from Them

75% of High Achievers Come From Troubled Families 6 Lessons We Can Learn from Them While therbeie are many studies that show the benefits of being raised in a positive environment, there are less-obvious things we can learn from those who did not enjoy this advantage.Clinical psychologist Dr. Meg Jay explores cases of individuals who encountered adversity during childhood and went on to make major achievements in her book Supernormal The Secret World of the Family Hero. Jay drew on her over 20 years of researching cases and treating clients who include doctors, activists, entrepreneurs and entertainers. She cites a study revealing that out of 400 high-achieving people, 75 percent of them faced major adversities before turning 20 years old. Here are eight lessons we can learn from those who come from troubled families and went on to succeed.1. Be proactive.Being self-sufficient means going after what you want instead of waiting around for others to hand it to you. Many of those who a re tasked with caring for themselves (or others in their family) at a young age develop the practice of taking care of tasks before being asked. Actively work toward your goalsinstead of hoping for the best outcome later.2. Practice positive affirmations.When life is rocky, it can be easy to let the trials derail you and internalize the negative. Experiencing hardships early on forces people to make a choice between dwelling on the bad or reinforcing the good about themselves. When you have to learn to treat yourself with kindness and tell yourself good things about yourself, you learn not to depend on others to lift you up or dwell on their opinions of you. Cultivate positivity by listing what you like about yourself even when you make a mistake so you can move on and keep working toward your achievements.3. Take care of yourself.Because depending on others for nurture isnt always an option, learning how to best care for yourself is really important. Basic tasks like preparing your own meals and making your own appointments are skills that not everyone has, but to reach big goals you cant let the small things stop you. Recognize when you need to give yourself more time or attention, and fulfill that need to the best of your ability.4. Avoid bad habits.While many are warned about the dangers involved with harmful behavior, not everyone sees the immediate impact up close. This can include engaging in dangerous activities, acting out aggressively, or neglecting responsibilities. Those who have witnessed family members or those close to them in childhood engage in such behavior have likely also seen consequences first hand. Even if you have been fortunate enough to avoid seeing the consequences of bad habits personally, you can be diligently refuse to engage in behavior that can impede your success.5. Find your community.Many find comfort and support from family members who raise them or grow up with them. For those who dont have that option, finding people outsi de of that network becomes imperative. Becoming comfortable with reaching out to people is an important skill that helps enable success.6. Give yourself quiet time when you need it.When things get hectic, its important to take a step back and give yourself room to think. Whether you find peace in meditating, jogging, or going on long walks, find a go-to plan for when life gets stressful. Letting stress build up is toxic and can derail achieving goals.--Kayla Heisler is an essayist and Pushcart Prize-nominated poet. She is an MFA candidate at Columbia University, and her work appears in New Yorks Best Emerging Poets 2017 anthology.

The Walking Mentorship, Day 2 No One Walks in Your Shoes

The Walking Mentorship, Day 2 No One Walks in Yur Shoes Joo Perre Viana is the mastermind behind theWalking Mentorshipprogram, an innovative one-week experience that helps people face their personal andprofessionalchallenges while taking a120-kilometer (74.5-mile) hike alongthe Camino de Santiago.The purpose of this methodology is to help gain perspective on what is important (both personally and professionally), update ur reality maps, and create an action plan for the future, Viana says.On Sunday, August 28, Viana embarked on his latest hike.Over the course of this week, he will be updating us daily about the journey he and his participants are on. Read the first post in the serieshere, and the second post here.- Ed. Note.730AM The daylight came totell us that it is time to start our new routine.Leaving Ourenseisquite a challenge probably one of the reasons why very fewpeople start walking the Camino from this particular spot. I once heard someone say that there are two route variants One is difficult, and the other one is very difficult.After leaving the hotel, we walked until we reached the old Roman bridge, where we used the open-air garden to stretch our bodies (key for success in any walking exercise) before we crossed the river Mio.Thefirst part of the day provided us with theright setting to tackle and wrap up the different exercises each participant received prior to the startofthe program, after we crossed the bridge about 400 meters up the hill the Camino divides.Nobody said the way to happiness iseasy. We took the very difficult variant.The steep climb to get out of the valley, a 300-meter ascent spreadover four kilometers, wasdone in silence. We contemplatedthe river view, the fresh morning air, the sun coming out behind the mountains, and the omnipresent big blue sky.As we started gaining perspective into our lives, we reached our first stop of the day the tiny chapel of So Marcos da Costa.With a breathtaking vi ew, it was the right place and the right time to drink water and rest our feet. Enjoying Ourense from up above helped us to recover our energies. The gigantic stone tables werealso the perfect setting to write our first notes in oursurvival kits our important walking companions.The day evolved, and the group started gaining itsunique dynamic. After our first climb, another important piece of the puzzle wasdelivered to each one of us We all understood that we werehere to help each other, but we also came to understand a very powerful metaphorNo one can walk in your shoes.The simple questions we have to face while climbing challenge us to gain perspective into our own lives, both professionally and personally. What is going well? What is not going well? What is home for me? What does work mean to me?Again and again, we connected the dots of our lives, step after step, kilometer after kilometer, listening to our bodies adjustingto our new routine.The next six kilometers took us throug h a beautiful forest that invited us to begin adifferent type of exercise. We walkedin pairs and shared our feelings and findings from the first part of the walk with one another.Once we reach the Old Guardians millennial oak trees that are impossible to miss we stopped again mainly to rest our eyes and listen to what nature continuously tell us.After a few more kilometers, the route turned left to Tamallancos. From there, we walked all together, recharged by the knowledgethat todays journey was almost over.Our final stop wasat Via Stellae, a precious place (the Private Pilgrim hostel) run by a very special family.After showering, a light lunch, and awell-deservednap, the evening fell on us with a warm breeze that seemed to whisper to us that we were moving in the right direction.Around a simple table, we recovered the pleasure of casual conversation, where sharing and listening highlight the flavors of the day. The only technology I could see from my seat was the blinking light o f an airplane deep in the dark sky.My feet are sore. Indeed, no one can walk in my shoes, but my heart beats at a familiar rhythm. It is the sound of pure happiness.Tomorrow, we continue to walk.Ultreia et Suseia,JoaoPhotos from Day 2Joo Perre Viana foundedtheWalking Mentorshipprogram.

10-Step Guide to a Career Makeover

10-Step Guide to a Career Makeover 10-Step Guide to a Career Makeover Like it or not, the year is halfway over Dont spend another moment unhappy in your job. Here are a few quick tips to help you sortout your careerBegin With a Few Simple Questions1. Do you like what you do?2. Do you like the people you do it with?Now, Dig a Bit Deeper3. What do you really want to change? Write your answers down, and then ask yourself, Are these realistic, attainable changes?4. How are you going to achieve these changes? Your options are either to make changes where you are or to start looking for something more aligned with your goals and values.5. If youre going to negotiate in your current role, have a clear plan. Outline your accomplishments over the past year and how much value they brought to your company. If its a raise you want, have a number in mind to ask for dont just ask for more money without getting specific.Make sure that the number is based in reality and in relation to the industr y average for your position. Citespecific references indicating where you found your salary statistics. If you want other perks e.g., more time off, a flexible schedule make a case for how these perks will help you stayproductive or become even more productive. If youre asking for more than one thing, negotiate them simultaneously, not individually.6. If youve decided you need to search for a new employer and position, have a clear understanding of what you want to do and who you want to do it with so that you can keep your job search focused. Its very easy to be attracted to jobs that youre semi-qualified for when you dont really know what you want. You will end up wanting something that is not based in your reality, and if you takea role like this, you will soon find yourself looking again because you didnt take a role that truly satisfied your needs.7. Be targeted in your search, but exhaust all avenues in a weighted fashion to find the job. This means that while you may search job boards occasionally to see if what youre looking for is out there, you may also need to leverage your personal network to find contacts at particular organizations who can get your resume into the right hands.You can also choose to work closely with recruiters, who will simplify the search process by submitting you to jobs youre interested in. A recruiter may even be able to market your resume to a company they dont already work with in an effort to get you seen. Either way, assuming youre working with a good recruiter who has solid relationships with their clients, you will have an advocate who canweigh in when a client is torn between you and a few other candidates.8. Be patient. Dont take a job out of frustration with the job search or because you just really need a change. Trust that its better to wait for what you want.9. When you do get an offer, make sure it is clearly aligned with your values and the skills youd like to be using. Make a list of everything you want out o f a job, from the actual hard skills necessary to be successful in the role to the values related to your lifestyle and sense of self. Then, in two columns titled Aligned and Not Aligned, check off how many things on your list of must-haves fall into each category for this particular offer. After this exercise, it should become glaringly obvious whether this new role will truly make you happy. (Need some clarification?Find a more detailed explanation of this exercise here.)10. Believe you have the power to change your situation. Its easy to feel stuck and believethat a job search is out of your control. The more in control you feel and act, the better the chances are that the right opportunity will come and the more clearly you will be able to identify itA version of this post originally appeared onAtrium Staffings blog.Michele Mavi isAtrium Staffings nicht auslagerbar career expert.

What to Do When Your New Job Isnt Your Dream Job

What to Do When Your New Job Isnt Your Dream JobWhat to Do When Your New Job Isnt Your Dream JobWhat to Do When Your New Job Isnt Your Dream JobIf your new job isnt the love of your life, make the most of it during your search for a better one.You made it After endless hours of filling out job applications, rehearsing your interview responses, and sending post-interview follow-up thank you notes, you finally received that coveted job offer.Its not your dream job, but it will cover the rent. Although youre happy to have the promise of a paycheck when so many are still struggling with unemployment, you cant shake the feeling that there must be something better out there.Youre not alone.These days, everyone from career coaches to celebrities encourages professionals of all ages to pursue your passion and find a job you love. While this sounds like solid advice for a happy career, the harsh reality is that most people work their entire lives without reaching this lofty goal.And even if y oure lucky enough to find your dream job you know, the one where you have a rewarding role at a great company that offers a solid paycheck and all the best perks youll quickly realize that no job is ever perfect.Dont get me wrong. Im one of those career advice experts who believe you should enjoy your work. Life is too short to stay in a job that makes you miserable.But theres a difference between finding a job you love and finding a job you like a lot.If you accepted a job thats less than ideal, never fear. Im here to help you make the most of your new job while you continue your pursuit of a better career.Start your new job on the right foot.It doesnt matter if its a job you love or simply a means to a paycheck. Its never too early to start building your personal brand in the workplace. You already know that its important to make a good impression on the very first day of your new job, but take this a step further by creating a list of things you can do during your first week, m onth, and 90 days on the job that will set you up for success.Related 8 Tips for Success on Your First Day at a New JobMake the most of your situation.Spare yourself a lot of unnecessary disappointment by resetting your expectations for your new job. So, its not the job of your dreams. That doesnt mean this job will be a waste of your time.Often, its necessary to take a step sideways or even backward in your career in order to gain the skills and experience necessary to move forward. Think of your new job as a stepping stone toward your long-term goal.This is especially true if you are changing careers or a recent college grad starting your first entry-level job. When youre trying to break into a new industry, youre looking for any foot in the door, even if that means taking on an unpaid internship or an entry-level job outside of your field of study, such as a customer service representative.Your first job after college will require grunt work. If your entry-level job is making you question your career path, take a look at the work the person two levels above you is doing for the company. If that persons role interests you, then you know youre on the right track.Set realistic expectations for what your new position has to offer and look for the silver lining.Related How to Make the Most Out of a Job You Dont LoveFind outlets for your interests.Its important to find ways to use the skills you enjoy most and wish to pursue in your long-term career, especially if they fall outside your current job description. For instance, if you have a passion for writing, share this information with your manager. There may be opportunities to contribute to the company blog or lend your writing skills to another department in the organization when its running short on resources. Ive seen plenty of colleagues change careers because they were willing to volunteer their skills and time to help another team on a project.Also, look for opportunities to practice your craft outside o f your new job. Using the example above, you may decide to take a creative writing class, pick up some freelance work through a site like Upwork, join a Meetup group to get together with other like-minded individuals, or use a site like Catchafire to find a skill-based volunteer opportunity that allows you to leverage your writing skills for a good cause. All these activities will help boost your resume for your target job in the future.Network like its your job.Studies find that youre 10 times more likely to land a job when your application is accompanied by an employee referral. However, you cant get those coveted references without networking. Make it your mission to become an active networker.Develop a valuable network of professional connections by getting involved in your alma maters alumni events, joining relevant LinkedIn groups online, and finding face-to-face networking opportunities through relevant professional associations, trade shows, and conferences.You dont have to leave the office in order to network. Get to know the colleagues in your department and take advantage of company-wide events to meet those outside of your group. Networking with your current colleagues is especially helpful if you want to pursue a different role within the saatkorn company or plan to continue working in the same industry.Build the skills you need.You may find that your new job isnt providing you with the opportunity to build certain skills that are important for your professional advancement. If thats the case, take matters into your own hands and seek out opportunities to fill your skill gaps. For example, you can sign up for an online course through sites like Coursera, Lynda.com, edX, or Skillshare or pick up one of these highly-recommended career development books to help you improve a soft skill. You may also learn about relevant seminars, webinars, and other professional development opportunities through the professional associations you join and the conferen ces or networking events you attend.Keep looking.While some would argue you want to avoid being labeled as job hopper by employers, most career experts agree that employed professionals should always be looking for new job opportunities. Keep up your job-search activities by regularly updating your resume, monitoring your online presence, fleshing out your LinkedIn profile, starting a brag book to record your professional wins, making networking a priority, and applying to positions youre interested in and qualified to pursue. Dont let your new job get the best of you.It can be challenging to stay motivated at work when youre doing a job you dont love, but dont let your current situation bring you down. Try adopting these tried-and-true habits to make you happier in the office.Know when its time to move on.While I strongly encourage my clients to land a new job before they call it quits with their current employer, there are times when its not worth the wait. If your job is making y ou sick and you absolutely dread going into work every day, its time to make a change. Related 11 Signs That Its Time for a New JobIf youre a recent college graduate and youre anxious to quit your entry-level job and find a new opportunity, take a step back and read this article first. It will help you decide if its truly the right time to quit your job or if its in your best interest to stick it out a little longer.Keep your eye on your long-term job goals and make the most of your current situation. Youve got thisClick on the following link for more career advice.Ready to find your dream job? Hire aTopResume professional resume writer todayRecommended ReadingShould You End Things With Your Job?Discover Your Dream Job in 3 Simple StepsHow to Define Your Career Goals

5 Apps That Will Get You Through the Hectic Workday

5 Apps That Will Get You Through the Hectic Workday5 Apps That Will Get You Through the Hectic WorkdayMeditation and, more broadly, mindfulness have of late been linked to everything from increased creativity to stress reduction. But who has time to pause and assume lotus position amid back-to-back conference calls and an overstuffed inbox?You may not realize it, but the smartphone that youre currently using to flip through emails could be the ticket to workday zen. Each of these five mobile apps, either free or cheap, guide you in channeling some inner peace (even if its in only five-minute snatches between a board meeting and coffee date). 1. HeadspaceWhat it Does Tap into this app to learn how to meditate in just 10 minutes a day. It will guide you via podcast through modern meditations on how to get to sleep quickly and easily, how to make your daily crazed commute stress-free, how to take the time to really appreciate your food, and more. Why I Love It Headspace makes it easy to set reminders to keep yourself on track and even offers a dashboard to evaluate your progredienz. Plus, the guided meditation tracks are voiced by Headspace founder and former Buddhist monk Andy Puddicombe, whose British lilt is the perfect antidote to a hectic workday. 2. BuddhifyWhat it Does Buddhify provides guided meditation tracks for 14 different activities, from eating and traveling to walking in the city and even working online. Like a gym membership for your brain, Buddhify is specifically designed for busy people who still want to prioritize the health of their minds.Why I Love It Designed by a data artist, Buddhify is one of the most beautiful (and easy to use) mindfulness apps on the market. I also like the apps solo mode, which lets you take 10 timed guidance-free minutes to yourself to clear your brain and reset.3. GPS for the SoulWhat it Does This app, presented by Huffington Post, bLife, and HeartMath, uses your phones camera lens to measure your stress levels, then invites you to course-correct through music, poetry, breathing exercises, pictures of your loved ones, and more. Why I Love It Anything with Arianna Huffingtons stamp of approval gets my buy-in. In addition, the apps breathing pacer helps regulate your breathing during each meditation, and each guides beautiful, relaxing visuals are a nice companion to the written content- especially for visual thinkers like me. Because its a Huffington Post-sponsored app, GPS for the Soul also includes access to interesting articles on topics like indecision, embracing quiet, remaining in the present, and more.4. HappierWhat it Does More of a social gratitude journal than a pocket yogi, Happier helps you cultivate those little nuggets throughout your day that make you smile and share them with the wider community to spread the love. You can freely share any happy moment and add it to a collection, whether its getting stuff done, being outside, learning new things, meeting awesome people, or any ca tegory you create. Why I Love It Within Happiers social network, you can smile at peoples happy moments in your feed, reshare them to your followers, and glean inspiration from users across the globe. My New Years resolution a few years ago was to write down one thing I was grateful for every day from January 1-December 31, and while I made it through the journey, I would have loved to use an app like Happier to record and share my thoughts. Being held somewhat accountable by the built-in app community might encourage you to keep recognition of happy moments front-of-mind.5. Stop, Breathe ThinkWhat it Does Created by Tools For Peace, a Pasadena-based organization focused on cultivating compassion and kindness primarily in students, this app prompts you to check in with how youre feeling- mentally, physically, and emotionally- then dishes up recommended meditations geared toward your current mindset. Why I Love It You can track your progress through virtual stickers and learn about how meditation works and why its good for you. Plus, the meditation topics to choose from are wide-ranging being present, gratitude, dealing with change, kindness, equanimity, compassion, and more. Positive thinking and an earnest approach to managing modern stress can seriously do wonders for your workday productivity and flow. Give it a go

US Military Active Duty Death Benefits & Entitlements

US Military Active Duty Death Benefits & EntitlementsUS Military Active Duty Death Benefits & EntitlementsFamily members of military personnel who sie while serving on active duty, active duty for training (ADT), or initial duty training (IDT) may be eligible for several federal benefits, privileges or entitlements. When a family is bedrngnisified of the death of an active duty military member, they are assigned to a Casualty Assistance Representative (CAR) whose sole job is to help the family through the process. If the CAR cannot answer your questions, they will refer you to the appropriate military official or government agency, or get the answer for you. The following shows the benefits, privileges, and entitlements for active duty military family survivors. Monetary Benefits Family members of military personnel who die as a direct or indirect result of wartime or peacetime tafelgeschirr are eligible to receive several types of federal benefits. Benefits to a spouse and child ren are paid regardless of economic need, except in the case of a nonservice-connected death pension. Benefits for parents who might otherwise be eligible are not paid if the parents have income in excess of a certain amount each year. Your CAR, the nearest VA or Social Security office will explain the benefits to you, the amounts that can be paid, and help you complete the required claim forms. Death Gratuity The military death gratuity is a lump sum gratuitous payment made by the military to eligible beneficiaries of a member who dies on Active Duty (AD), Active Duty for Training (ADT), or Initial Duty Training (IDT), or full-time National Guard duty. Its purpose is to help the survivors in their readjustment and to aid them in meeting immediate expenses incurred. The death gratuity payment is $12,420 and is non-taxable. For those whose death is as a result of hostile actions and occurred in a designated combat operation or combat zone or while training for combat or performin g hazardous duty, the payment is $100,000. The death gratuity payment is made to survivors of the deceased in this order The members lawful surviving spouse. Payment delivered by the CAR assigned to the reporting or assistance base, within 24 hours of the members death, unless the surviving spouse desires other arrangements.If there is no spouse, to the child or children of the member, regardless of age or marital status, in equal shares (state laws guide payment to minor children). Payment for minor children is made by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) within 30 days after they have received the required claim form and supporting documentation. If none of the above, to the parents, or brothers and/or sisters, or any combination as designated by the deceased member. Payment delivered by the CAR assigned to the reporting or assistance base, within 24 hours of the members death, unless the NOK desires other arrangements. The death gratuity is not paid to any other pers on when there are no survivors as listed above. A will is not a legal designation for death gratuity since such payment is not an allowance or a debt due to the member and cannot be parte of the members estate. The claim form required to apply for this benefit is DD Form 397, Claim Certification and Voucher for Death Gratuity Payment. Unpaid Pay and Allowances Upon the death of an active duty member, any pay and allowances due, but not paid to the member, are paid to the designated beneficiary named on the members DD Form 93, Record of Emergency Data. Unpaid pay and allowances may include unpaid basic pay, payment for up to 60 days of accrued leave, amounts due for travel, per diem expenses, transportation of eligible family members, shipment of household goods, and unpaid installments of variable reenlistment bonuses. The decedents pay record is completely audited by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, and a check for any amount due is issued to the designated beneficia ry. When there is no written designation by the member, any money due is paid to the first eligible recipient in the following order The members lawful surviving spouse.If there is no spouse, to the child or children of the member and descendants of deceased children, on their behalf.If none of the above, to the parents of the member in equal shares or the surviving parent.If none of the above, to the duly appointed legal representative of the members estate.If none of the above, to the person(s) determined to be entitled under the laws of the state in which the member welches domiciled. The claim form required to apply for this benefit is Standard Form 1174, Claim for Unpaid Compensation of Deceased Member of the Uniformed Services. Your CAR will help you complete the required claim form. Family Housing Eligible family members occupying government housing on the date the member dies may continue to occupy such housing without charge for a period of 365 days provided members dea th was in the line-of-duty. If they vacate the government housing before the 180 days are up, theBasic Allowance for Housing (BAH), is paid for the remaining unused days. If the family members are not occupying government housing, they may receive BAH or anoverseas housing allowancefor 180 days after the members death. Your CAR will explain this entitlement to you and help you complete the required claim form. Servicemembers Group Life Insurance(SGLI). The SGLI payment is $400,000 unless the member elected a lesser amount or declined coverage in writing. Monthly premium payments for the level of coverage selected by the member are automatically deducted from the members pay. Determination and payment of proceeds are made by the Office of Servicemembers Group Life Insurance under the jurisdiction of the Department of VA. Payment of proceeds to a beneficiaryisexempt from taxation. The inkoranversd member may have designated as principal or contingent beneficiary any person, firm, cor poration or legal entity, including their estate, individually or as a trustee. If the member designated a trust, they indicated the name and date of the trust in the beneficiary block. If the member designated a trust through a Will, they annotated belastung Will and Testament in the beneficiary block. If the member chose not to designate a specific beneficiary but preferred the proceeds be paid in the order of precedence, the member selected the By Law designation. When the By Law designation is used, the proceeds are automatically paid in the following order of precedence The members lawful surviving spouse.If there is no spouse, to the child or children of the member in equal shares, with the share of any deceased child to be distributed among the descendants of that child.If none of the above, to the parents of the member in equal shares or the surviving parent.If none of the above, to the duly appointed executor or administrator of the members estate.If none of the above, to o ther next of kin. The claim form required to apply for this benefit is VA Form SGLV 8283,Claim for Death Benefits. Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) SBP is a monthly annuity paid by the military to the surviving spouse or, in some cases, eligible children, of a member who dies on active duty. The initial annuity paid to a surviving spouse is equal to 55 percent of the retired pay to which the member would have been entitled based upon years of active service if retired on the date of death (if the member was retirement-eligible). The annuity is reduced by the amount of the monthly DIC payment awarded and paid to the surviving spouse by the Department of VA. When the surviving spouse reaches age 62, the annuity is reduced to 35 percent. The annuity is paid until the spouse dies, but is suspended upon remarriage before age 55. The annuity to a surviving spouse may be reinstated if the subsequent marriage ends in death or divorce. The annuitant must send a certified copy of the divorce d ecree or death certificate to DFAS-DE to reinstate the annuity. If a second SBP benefit resulted from the remarriage, the surviving spouse must elect which of the two SBP benefits to receive. Should the surviving spouse remarry at age 55 or older, the annuitant will continue to receive the monthly annuity. The surviving spouse mustnotify DFAS-DE/FRB, 6760 E. Irvington Place, Denver CO 80279-6000, of any changes in marital status. Detailed information will be provided by your CAR and the DFAS-DE Center. Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan(RCSBP) It is a monthly annuity paid by the military to the surviving spouse or, in some cases, eligible children, of a Reserve Component member who dies and has completed the satisfactory years of service that qualified themember for retired payat age 60. The member must have made an election within 90 days of notification of eligibility to participate in the program. Membersofan Active Guard/Reserve 10211 (officer) or 12310 (enlisted) tour , are eligible to participate in the plan. Coverage is not automatic unless the member dies before the 90 day period established by law. The initial annuity paid to a surviving spouse is equal to 55 percent of the retired pay to which the member would have been entitled at age 60, reduced by the Reserve Portion Cost. SBP and RCSBP Factors Should the surviving spouse remarry before age 55, the annuity is paid in equal shares to eligible children under age 18, or under age 22 if a full-time student, unless handicapped. The coverage stops when there are no eligible children. A dependent child may be an adopted child, stepchild, grandchild, foster child, or recognized a natural child who lived with the member in a regular parent-child relationship. A child disabled before age 18, or before age 22 if a full-time student when the disability occurred, is an eligible beneficiary so long as the disability exists and the child remains incapable of self-support. DFAS-DE reinstates a chil ds annuity when a child between the ages of 18 and 22 reenters school on a full-time basis, or a disabling condition recurs making the child incapable of self-support. Marriage at any age terminates a childs eligibility. The monthlyannuityfor children is 55 percent and is not reduced by DIC or when a disabled child attains age 62. Marriage at any age terminates a childs eligibility.? Survivor annuities are taxable income. You will receivea tax statementfrom the Defense Finance and Accounting Service at the end of the year. The statement will show the full amount of the annuity payments you received and the total amount of tax withheld during the year. Unless you elect otherwise, the amount of federal income tax withheld (FITW) will be as if you were a married individual claiming three exemptions. If you want your FITW changed at a later date, you must complete a new TD-Form W-4P, Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity Payments, showing the changes, and mail it to DFAS-DE/FRB , 6760 E. Irvington Place, Denver CO 80279-6000. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service withhold a 30 percentFederal income taxon annuities paid to nonresident aliens unless the beneficiary resides in a country that has a tax treaty with the United States specifying a different withholding rate. Address questions to the Internal Revenue Service, Assistant Commissioner (International), ATTN INCTPS, 950 LEnfant Plaza South, SW, Washington DC 20024-2123, or contact the nearest American Embassy. Annuities may be subject to Federal estate taxes. Beneficiaries should address tax questions to a legal assistance officer or the nearest Internal Revenue Service office. A certificate of continued eligibility form will be sent to you each year prior to your birthday. Complete and return the form promptly so the Defense Finance and Accounting Service can continue your annuity without interruption. Read the instructions on the form and make sure you have completed it correctly. Sign and date the form and send it to DFAS-DE/FRB, 6760 E. Irvington Place, Denver CO 80279-6000. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Offset The Defense Finance and Accounting Service reduces a surviving spouses annuity by the amount of DIC the VA awards and pays the surviving spouse. The SBP annuity is not reduced by the amount of a childs DIC entitlement. The claim forms required to apply for this benefit are DD Form 2656-4 (this form is not available electronically), TD-Form W-4P,Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity Payments, (available from the Post Office or IRS), andSF 1199A,Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service may require additional documents to establish an annuity (i.e., Representative Payee documentation school certification physicians statement for a disabled child over age 18). Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) The DIC payments may be authorized for surviving spouses who have not remarried, unmarried children under age 18, disabled children, children between the age of 18 and 23 if attending a VA-approved school, and low-income parents of servicemembers who die from A disease or injury incurred or aggravated while on active duty or active duty for training.An injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty whileon inactive duty training.A disability compensable by the Veterans Affairs. DIC paid to a surviving spouse is not based on the members military pay grade. The amount paid fora spousewith one or mora children of the deceased is increased for each child. The amount of the DIC payment for parents vary according to the number of parents, the amount of their individual or combined total annual income, and whether they live together or if remarried, living with a spouse. The surviving spouse and parents who receive DIC may be granted a special allowance for aid and attendance if a patient is ina nursing home, disabled, or blind and needs or requires the regular aid and attendance of another pe rson. If they are not so disabled as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person but who, due to disability, are permanently housebound, they may be granted additional special allowances. DIC payments to a surviving spouse are payable for life, as long as the spouse does not remarry. Should the surviving spouse remarry, payments are terminated for life? Your CAR or the nearest VA office will explain the benefit to you, the amounts that can be paid, and help you complete the required claim forms. The claim form when applying for this benefit isVA Form 21-534,Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation or Death Pension Accrued Benefits by Surviving Spouse or Child, orVA Form 21-535,Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by Parent(s). Denial of Claim for DIC If the VA denies your claim for DIC benefits, you may file an appeal with the Board of Veterans Appeals. The appeal must be filed within one year from the date of the notification of a VA decision to file an appeal. The first step in the appeal process is for you to file a written notice of disagreement with the VA regional office that made the decision. It is a written statement that you disagree with the VAs decision. Following receipt of the written notice, the VA will furnish you a Statement of the Case describing what facts, laws, and regulations were used in deciding the case. To complete the request for appeal, you must file a Substantive Appeal within 60 days of the mailing of the Statement of Case, or within one year from the date, the VA mailed its decision, whichever period ends later. Your CAR or the nearest VA office will help you file a written notice of disagreement with the VARO (Veteran Affairs Regional Office) that made the decision. Nonservice-Connected Death Pension If the VARO determines that you are not eligible for DIC, you may be eligible to apply for a nonservice-connected death pension. Surviving spouses and unmarried children under age 18, age 23 if attending a VA-approved school, of deceased members with wartime service may be eligible for this pension if they meet income limitations prescribed by law. Qualifying children who become incapable of self-support because of a disability before age 18 may be eligible for a pension as long as the condition exists unless the child marries or the childs income exceeds the income limit. The rate of the pension depends on the amount of income the surviving spouse or child receives from other sources. A pension is not payable to those whose estates are so large that it is reasonable to assume the estate will maintain them financially. Eligible survivors should make application through the local VA office. The VA will determine your eligibility. Montgomery GI Bill Death Benefit The VA will pay a special Montgomery GI Bill death benefit to a designated survivor in the event of the service-connected death of an individual while on active duty. The deceased must either have been entitled to educational assistance under theMontgomery GI Bill program, or a participant in the program who would have been so entitled but for the high school diploma or length of service requirement. The amount paid will be equal to the deceased members actual military pay reduction less anyeducational benefitspaid. If you are eligible to receive the death benefit, submit a letter, along with proof of relationship and a copy of theDD Form 1300,Report of Casualty, to the appropriate VA Regional Office. The death benefit is made in by-law fashion to the spouse, children, and parents, and will not be paid to anyone else in the by-law chain. Your CAR or the nearest VA office can help you apply for a refund of contributions. Social Security Payments Social Security monthly benefits are paid to a spouse or a divorced spouse, age 60 or over a spouse or divorced spouse regardless of age with children of the decedent under age 16 or disabled in their care and meeting social security requirements. A divorced spouse must have been married to the service member at least 10 years. Monthly payments are also paid to children until age 18 or 19 if a full-time student at a primary or secondary school, or age 18 or older and disabled before age 18. Spouses waiting until age 65 to apply for Social Security receive maximum benefits. However, they can receive reduced Social Security payments between ages 60 and 65. Dependent parents are eligible for benefits at age 62 if they were more than 50 percent dependent on the deceased service member for their support. The amount paid can only be determined by the Social Security Administration, which has a record of the wages earned by the member during the period of both military and civilian employment under theSocial Security Program. To receive this benefit, eligible survivors should make application to the nearest Social Security office. They will explain the benefit, determine your eligibility, the amounts that can be paid, and help you complete the required claim forms. You should apply early, as the law generally permits retroactive payments of 12 months. Social Security Lump Sum Death Payment The Social Security Administration pays a lump-sum death payment, up to $255, to the surviving spouse living with the member at the time of death. Separation because ofmilitary service, is considered living together. If there is no surviving spouse, it is paid to the oldest child who was eligible for or entitled to Social Security benefits for the month of death, based upon the deceased members earnings. No other survivors are entitled to this benefit. This benefit is paid regardless if burial, funeral, or memorial benefits were paid by the military. To receive this benefit, eligible survivors must make application to the nearest Social Security office. They will explain the benefit, determine your eligibility, the amount that can be paid, and help you complete the required claim forms.