BURIAL BENEFITS
Under Burial Benefits there are several helps that the surviving family can look to. They are:
Under Burial Benefits there are several helps that the surviving family can look to. They are:
One of the first expenses that a veteran's survivor(s) is likely to encounter is that of burial expenses. There are several choices as to where the deceased veteran may be layed to rest. They include a VA National Cemetery, Interior Department Cemetery, a State Veteran Cemetery, or, possibly, Arlington National Cemetery.
For burial in a VA NATIONAL CEMETERY the following criteria must be met. The veteran's discharge must not have been dishonorable and he/she must have completed the required period of service. The deceased could have been a member of a reserve component, providing he/she served a minimum of 20 years. They could also have been a United States citizen who served in the armed forces of a government that was allied to the U.S. during war time activities. Burial benefits are not provided, however, for veterans who were dishonorably discharged or who were convicted of a federal or state capital crime.
Interestingly enough, not only are veterans that fit the above criteria eligible for burial, but so is their spouse, minor children, disabled dependent adult children, or an unmarried spouse that was married to another individual, but who was divorced at the time of the veteran's death.
If the survivor(s) qualifies, included with his/her burial benefits are:
Those planning ahead, you cannot reserve a grave plot in a VA National Cemetery. Such a request must be made after the veteran has passed on. There are no forms to fill out when requesting interment in a VA National Cemtery. At time of death, the survivor(s) must tell the funeral home/director that they wish to have the burial in a select VA National Cemetery and the funeral home/director must make arrangements with the select facility.
ELIGIBILITY will be established by the VA National Cemetery. The survivor(s) must provide the following items:
DD214 DOCUMENT: The DD214 document should be kept on hand and in a safe place at all times during the life of a veteran. If you do not currently have your DD214, contact NPRC (National Personnel Records Center), Military Personnel Record's Office, 9700 Page Boulevard, St. Louis, Mi. 63132-5100. This document must be presented to a VA National Cemetery for eligibility. For further information, click HERE. -- Al Colombo
APPROVED CEMETERY FACILITIES: For a list of VA National Cemteries, see: VA NATIONAL CEMETERIES (soon to be added to this spot).
As a note of interest, the U.S. INTERIOR DEPARTMENT manages fourteen national cemeteries, two of which are possible burial sites for veterans. They are the Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville, Georgia, and the Andrew Johnson National Cemetery, Greenville, Tennessee. For more information on these cemeteries, use the following contact information:
Andersonville National Historic Site
Rt. 1, Box 85
Andersonville, GA 31711
(912) 924-0343
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site
P.O. Box 1088
Greenville, TN 37744
(615) 638-3551
MILITARY HONORS: Military honors are conducted by the DoD (Dept. of Defense), local military personnel, veteran organizations, or private organizations that provide military honors when requested beforehand to do so. If prior arrangements have not been made, and the survivor(s) wish to have the customary military honors, cemetery staff may be able to play a recorded version of taps at a committal service. Arrangements should be made prior to the service.
The cemetery director of the approved cemetery selected can usually provide the survivor(s) with a list of telephone numbers and locations of organizations who can provide military honors. Arrangements for military honors must be made in advance of the service.
Veterans buried in a VA National Cemetery are entitled to a headstone or marker. So are their dependents if they are buried in a VA National Cemetery. Remaining consistent with the cemetary, the available headstones/markers are as follows:
The name of the deceased veteran, branch of service, and the date of birth and death are included. Niche markers are also available for marking the cremated remains in columbaria. Optional markings are also provided on request, such as military grade, rank or rate, war service, an emblem signifying the deceased religion, and descriptions of valor awards.
When the final resting place of a veteran is other than a VA National Cemetery, military post, or state cemetery, the survivor(s) must apply for the head stone or marker. Such headstones and markers are not provided for spouses and children of veterans who are buried in a private cemetery, although 20-year reservists are generally eligible. All shipping and associated charges are paid for by the U.S. Government.
Application for a marker or headstone, under the above conditions, must be made using the VA 40-1330 form, which must be filed out in its entirety. This form is available at any VA regional office, on the U.S. Veteran Information (non-governmental) website, or by calling 800-697-6947. When filled out, the 40-1330 form must be forwarded to:
When the remains of a veteran are not available, the survivor(s) are still eligible for a headstone or marker. The only difference between this headstone or marker and those provided when a veteran's remains are available is the phrase "In Memory of." Such a situation may occur where a veteran's or servicemember's remains could not be recovered or identified, were buried at sea, cremated and scattered, or donated to science. Such a marker or headstone also is available to the survivor(s) of a deceased veteran when using a private cemetery. In this case, the U.S. Government will pay the cost of shipping but not the burial plot and placement of the marker or headstone.
The survivor(s) of a veteran or reservist who was eligible for military retirement pay are also entitled to a burial flag, which is customarily draped over the deceased veteran's casket. After the proceedings, the flag is usually given to the next of kin or a close friend. Burial flags are usually made available at any VARO (VA Regional Office), National Cemetery, or U.S. Post Office.
To apply, the appropriate party must fill out Form 2008, Application For United States Flag For Burial Purposes. This form and a copy of the deceased veteran's discharge papers must then be submitted at any of the three locations listed in the previous paragraph. Sad to say, according to the VA, more than 440,000 U.S. burial flags are provided each year. Only one flag per veteran.
Where a burial flag is donated to a VA National Cemetery, a Certificate of Appreciation is presented to the donor. Most VA National Cemeteries display an Avenue of Flags on patriotic holidays and other special events. The Avenues of Flags consists of burial flags donated by the families of deceased veterans, providing a visible tribute to all U.S. veterans, living and departed. For more information on the burial flag donor program, contact the VA National Cemetery of your choice.
BURIAL ALLOWANCE: When applicable, the VA offers a burial allowance of up to $1,500 to the individual who bore the burial expenses. The deceased death, however, must be service connected. In some cases, the VA will also pay the costs associated with transportation when the final resting place is that of a National Cemetery nearest to the veteran's home.
BURIAL AND FUNERAL EXPENSE ALLOWANCE: The VA will pay a $300 burial and funeral expense allowance without a time limit associated with filing a claim (all other claims have a 2 year limit). Eligibility turns on the deceased being entitled to receive pension or compensation, or they would have been entitled to compensation ut for receipt of military retirement pay. A survivor(s) of a veteran who dies while in a VA facility, nursing home under VA contract, or a state-operated nursing home are also eligible for this benefit. In addition, the VA may also pay the transportation costs associated with transporting such a veteran's remains.
PLOT ALLOWANCE: The VA will pay $150 plot allowance when a veteran is buried in a private cemetery, other than a VA National Cemetery or any other location not under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Government. In order for the veteran's survivor(s) to be eligible for this benefit, the deceased must have been discharged from active duty because of a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, the veteran was in receipt of compensation or pension or whould have been except for receiving military retirement pay, or the veteran died in a VA facility.
If the deceased veteran was buried by the state without a burial plot charge or interment in a state-owned cemetery reserved solely for veteran burials, payment may be made to the state involved. Plot allowance reimbursements are not available to a state agency or a deceased veteran's employer who has paid said veteran's burial expenses. For additional information on monetary burial benefits, call 800-827-1000.
The survivor(s), next of kin, and other loved ones are eligible to receive a Presidential Memorial Certificate when a veteran who received an honorable discharge dies. A Presidential Certificate bears the signature of the President of the United States in honor of the deceased veteran for service rendered to his/her country. The program receives its statutory authority under Section 112, Title 38, of the United States Code and was initiated by President John F. Kennedy in March 1962. All subsequent Presidents have elected to continue the tradition.
To apply for a Presidential Memorial Certificate, an eligible recipient, or someone acting on their behalf, must apply in person at any VARO or by U.S. Mail only (snail mail, no e-mail). No form is necessary when requesting a Presidential Memorial Certificate, but, when applying by U.S. Mail, the requestor must include a written request, their return postal address, and a copy of the deceased veteran's discharge documents. There is no time limit for application.
To apply by U.S. Postal, send a written request, your return postal address, and a copy of the deceased veteran's discharge papers to:
* 21-530 Application For Burial Benefits
Use this form to apply for assistance in meeting the funeral and burial costs of a deceased veteran.
File: 21530.pdf entire four-pages, includes detailed instructions.
* 40-1330 Application For Standard Government Headstone Or Marker For
Installation In A Private Or State Veterans Cemetery
File: 401330.pdf
* 40-4987 Agreement For Burial Of Cremated Remains
This form is used for information requesred to permit a burial in a national cemetery.
File: 4987.pdf
* 49631 Instruction For Processing Request For Replacement Of Headstone Or Marker.
This form is used for for processing request for replacement of headstone or marker.
File: 49631.pdf
* 4962 Verification Of Eligibilty For Burial In A National Cemetery
This form is used for eligibilty for burial in a national cemetery. (2 pages)
File: 4962.pdf
* VA-2008 Application For United States Flag For Burial Purpose
The next of kin (or close associate if there is no next of kin) of a deceased veteran can use this form to request a burial flag. (3 pages)
Files: 2008p1.pdf, 2008p2.pdf, and 2008p3.pdf
Note: If you are in need of one of the above forms, e-mail us and we'll send the form to you either by e-mail or hardcopy. If you want a hardcopy, send a self address stamped envelope (SASE) to:
U.S. Veteran Information
P.O. Box 30076
East Canton, Ohio 44730
You can also obtain these forms from the VA's website at: http://www.va.gov.
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