1. Grief and Bereavement
This section should serve someone who may simply need someone to talk with, a grief group, a counselor, or ongoing support.
GriefShare
Faith based grief support groups, including local and online groups.
Find a GriefShare Group
The Compassionate Friends
Grief support with local chapters and online communities, especially useful when a family has experienced the death of a child.
The Compassionate Friends
Hospice Foundation of America
Bereavement education and resources surrounding grief, hospice, caregiving, and loss.
Hospice Foundation of America
2. Mental Health and Counseling
SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov
Searchable federal directory for mental health and behavioral health treatment providers. FindTreatment
Find Mental Health Treatment
211 Mental Health Resources
Helps people locate counseling, mental health programs, treatment options, and other local services.
211 Mental Health Help
Psychology Today Therapist Directory
Useful for locating therapists and filtering by location, insurance, specialty, grief, faith, and other needs.
Find a Therapist
3. Social Security Survivor Benefits
Social Security Survivor Benefits
Official SSA survivor benefit portal. Eligible survivors can include spouses, divorced spouses, children, and dependent parents. Social Security Administration
Social Security Survivor Benefits
Who Can Receive Survivor Benefits?
Check Survivor Benefit Eligibility
How Much Could I Receive?
SSA explains how survivor payments are calculated and how survivor benefits can interact with a person's own retirement benefit.Social Security Administration
Estimate Survivor Benefits
Widow, Widower and Surviving Divorced Spouse Application Information
This is particularly important because it tells survivors what documentation they may need when applying.Social Security Administration
SSA Widow and Widower Application Information
I would give this section a prominent button:
“My spouse died. What Social Security benefits should I check?”
4. Pensions and Retirement
This category is especially important because a widow may not know that a deceased spouse left behind a pension, 401(k), retirement plan, or survivor annuity.
PBGC Unclaimed Retirement Benefits Search
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation maintains a searchable database for certain unclaimed private sector retirement benefits.Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Search for Unclaimed Retirement Benefits
U.S. Department of Labor Retirement Plan Guidance
Provides information about pension and retirement rights, including surviving spouse protections.U.S. Department of Labor
Retirement Plan and Survivor Rights
Department of Labor: Death of a Family Member
This is an excellent resource because it addresses employment related benefits that can become important following a spouse's death.U.S. Department of Labor
Benefits After the Death of a Family Member
Checklist:
⃞ Did your spouse ever work for a company with a pension?
⃞ Did your spouse belong to a union?
⃞ Did your spouse have a 401(k), 403(b), IRA, or retirement account?
⃞ Was your spouse a government employee?
⃞ Did your spouse work for the railroad?
⃞ Did your spouse serve in the military?
5. Veterans Survivor Benefits
VA Survivor Benefits Hub
Covers Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Survivors Pension, Aid and Attendance, accrued benefits, bereavement counseling, and other survivor programs.Veterans Affairs
VA Survivor Benefits
VA Survivors Pension
Monthly benefits may be available to qualifying surviving spouses and dependent children of wartime Veterans who meet applicable requirements.Veterans Affairs
VA Survivors Pension
Apply for DIC, Survivors Pension or Accrued Benefits
Apply for VA Survivor Benefits
VA Form 21P-534EZ
VA Survivor Benefits Application Form
VA Family and Caregiver Benefits
VA Family, Survivor and Caregiver Benefits
6. Estate and Probate Guidance
USA.gov: Death of a Loved One
Federal guidance on tasks and government matters that can arise after a death.
Government Resources After a Death
Legal Services Corporation
Helps people locate nonprofit civil legal aid organizations. This can be valuable for qualifying widows dealing with probate, property, benefits, housing, or other legal matters.
Find Legal Aid Near You
American Bar Association Free Legal Answers
Qualifying individuals in participating states can submit civil legal questions online.
ABA Free Legal Answers
I would create subcategories here for Probate, Wills, Property, Beneficiary Issues, Debt After Death, Power of Attorney, Estate Administration, and Finding an Attorney.
7. Caregiving Transition
Administration for Community Living
Connects older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and families with community support.ACL Administration for Community Living
Find Help for Yourself or a Loved One
Eldercare Locator
Provides connections to local aging services, meals, home care, transportation, caregiver support, respite services, and other programs.Elder Care
Eldercare Locator
National Institute on Aging
Resources concerning caregiving, aging, grief, health, and planning.
National Institute on Aging
8. Housing Assistance
HUD Housing Counseling
Connects individuals with HUD participating housing counseling agencies and certified housing counselors.HUD
Find a HUD Housing Counselor
HUD Rental Assistance
Information about rental assistance and affordable housing programs.
HUD Rental Assistance
211 Housing Assistance
Particularly useful because 211 can connect a widow with programs operating in her actual community.211
Find Local Help Through 211
9. Food Assistance
USDA SNAP
Federal information about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
SNAP Food Assistance
Feeding America Food Bank Locator
Allows people to locate food banks serving their area.
Find Your Local Food Bank
211
Can locate food pantries, meal programs, utility assistance, housing help and other community services.211
Search 211 Community Resources
10. Community Programs
Benefits.gov / USA.gov Benefits
Useful for identifying government assistance programs for which someone may qualify.
Government Benefits Finder
Findhelp
Searchable database of local free and reduced cost programs, including food, housing, transportation, financial assistance, health and employment resources.
Search Findhelp
11. Faith Resources
Since this will be connected with Judy Lawrence Lamb Ministries, I would make this category different from the rest of the directory. It should provide both outside resources and your own ministry support.
GriefShare
Christ centered grief recovery and support groups.
GriefShare
Stephen Ministries
Christian one to one care ministry used by churches and congregations.
Stephen Ministries
12. Emergency and Crisis Support
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call, text, or chat 988 for crisis support. The service is free and confidential.988 Lifeline
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
211
For urgent needs involving shelter, food, utilities, mental health services and community resources.211
211 Essential Community Services
National Domestic Violence Hotline
National Domestic Violence Hotline