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AAFMAA Blog

New: Survivor Assistance Services With Every Mortgage

2022-10-03

Many of the AAFMAA Members we talk with at AAFMAA Mortgage Services LLC (AMS) mention that one of the main reasons they joined AAFMAA was the incredible Survivor Assistance Services (SAS) — benefits that support a surviving spouse when a Member dies.

The SAS team works on behalf of a Member’s beneficiaries to notify Social Security, DFAS, and other insurance companies as directed in order to start and stop certain coverages as required by law. This allows family members the important time they need to focus on other matters at their time of loss.

Coverage for Five Years, Included

Just as finding a home you love is important to us, AMS is also pleased to share additional opportunities with you that support your lifestyle. That’s why we’re now offering a complimentary five-year contract for AAFMAA Survivor Assistance Services when you purchase or refinance your home with us.* “It’s a pretty big deal,” says Bob Kerlin, a Military Mortgage Advisor in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Kerlin notes, “You can use it – and you should use it. It’s just an added benefit of doing business with AMS.” “When you get a mortgage with someone else, all you get is the mortgage. We can give you a whole lot more, including peace of mind.”

Taking Care of Families

The inclusion of five free years of AAFMAA Survivor Assistance Services with each AMS mortgage isn’t surprising given AAFMAA’s roots. AAFMAA was founded to provide financial support to widows and families of soldiers following Custer’s Last Stand at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. “It’s in our DNA,” says Rob Greenbaum, Chief Sales Officer of AMS.

At that time, when a soldier was killed in the field, the survivors would commence a “passing of the hat” to raise money that would be used to transport the soldiers’ dependents. But in the case of the 7th Cavalry, there were no survivors to continue the tradition.

It was in 1879 that the U.S. War Department created an Association to take care of fellow soldiers, with the expressed purpose “to aid the families of the deceased members in a prompt, simple and substantial manner.”

“Adding survivor benefits to mortgages is just one more way we can take care of those left behind,” says Greenbaum.

It’s a Very Big Deal

“Nobody wants to think about it, but we're all going to be gone someday,” says Kerlin, “and our spouses will be left to pick up the pieces.” AAFMAA’s life insurance professionals deal with agencies like the Social Security Administration every day. They know how to expedite results when the time comes, saving loved ones a lot of time and frustration.

But you get something else with your free SAS benefits. As an AAFMAA Member, you have access to your own free, secure Digital Vault where you can store important paperwork, such as your DD-214, marriage and birth certificates, and copies of passports. This keeps them safe, yet accessible 24/7, no matter where you are in the world.

Once you reach the five-year anniversary of your AMS mortgage, and the conclusion of your five-year complimentary AAFMAA SAS benefits coverage, you can either renew the coverage or buy an insurance policy with AAFMAA, which also includes Survivor Assistance Services, your Digital Vault, and other unique Member benefits.

“We’re proud to be able to offer this combined extra benefit to our mortgage customers because we know how valuable it is and how it will give them peace of mind,” says Kerlin.

We’re Here to Help

Whether you’re just thinking about buying, ready to start home-shopping in earnest, or considering a refinance, an AMS Military Mortgage Advisor will be happy to provide you with an honest and fair comparison of your mortgage options, including a wide range of affordable mortgages designed to meet your needs.

Ensuring AAFMAA Members obtain the best mortgage possible is our mission. Get your free mortgage assessment today or give us a call at 844-474-0393.

*The complimentary Survivor Assistance Services will become available to you upon becoming a new Member of AAFMAA.