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DEPARTMENT FOR AGING AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES AUXILIARY GRANT PROGRAM NON-SSI RESOURCE ELIGIBILITY 11/18 CHAPTER E PAGE 57 30. Death Benefits A death benefit is something received as the result of another's death. Death benefits include gifts and inheritances and may be countable resources. Examples of death benefits include: • Proceeds of life insurance policies received due to the death of the insured; • Lump sum death benefits from SSA; • RR burial benefits; • VA burial benefits; • Inheritances in cash or in real or personal property; • Cash or gifts of real or personal property given by relatives, friends, or a community group to “help out” with expenses related to the death. Note: Recurring survivor benefits such as those received under Title II, private pension programs, etc., are not death benefits. 30.1. Value of Resource Death benefits in excess of the cost of the deceased person's last illness and burial expenses that are to be paid by the individual are income in the month received and a countable resource the month following the month of receipt. 30.2. Exclusion The portion of death benefits an individual will use to pay the deceased's last illness and burial expenses are not a resource for one calendar month following the month of receipt. If retained until the first moment of the second calendar month following receipt, death benefits are resources. 30.2.1. Exception — Bills Already Paid Death benefits that are repayment of bills for last illness and burial expenses the individual has already paid are subject to resources rules beginning with the first moment of the month following the month of receipt.