[Lis6191]

After your mother passed your "caregivers" should've rec'd Social Security benefits. I have friends in which 1 spouse has died and the other is receiving SS monthly for each minor child -- ~ $800/mo per child. Now, I'm not sure if adoption by someone else would negate that. I would think not. And, yes, I would think the military would pay a death benefit/life insurance of sorts, not to mention any other life insurance policy that your mother held. I suspect you would need her SSN to check with the military on any benefits paid out in her behalf. But you may be able to get information using your SSN from Social Security. Obviously, monies paid were intended to be used to raise you, not necessarily all saved up for you to use one day. For this reason, hubby and I started mutual funds in our children's SSN (UGMA) that will be theirs someday -- if we were to pass my brother and SIL could use SS money and life insurance to raise/feed/clothe our children. I'm not sure what you intend to do with this info as it seems the past is past, but it sounds like it is really bothering you. Just my 2 cents.