Understanding Veteran Burial Benefits

If you or your relatives are suffering through the loss of a veteran in your family, you may be eligible for veteran funeral benefits to help ease the cost of an end-of-life ceremony. The Department of Veteran Affairs provides these benefits to help families pay.

Who is eligible?

Certain relatives of veterans are eligible for benefits if they are paying for the burial/funeral costs themselves and will not be reimbursed by any other organization. The eligible individuals include:

• The Veteran’s spouse

• The Veteran’s surviving partner in a legal union

• The Veteran’s child

• The Veteran’s parents

• The executor of the Veteran’s will

The Veteran also must not have been dishonorably discharged and must be described by one of the following circumstances:

• The Veteran died due to a disability-related to their service

• The Veteran died while receiving VA care (both VA facilities and facilities contracted by the VA)

• The Veteran died while traveling to receive VA-authorized care

• The Veteran died while applying for VA compensation or pension at the time of death and was entitled to benefits

• The Veteran died while receiving a VA pension/compensation

• The Veteran died while entitled to a VA pension/compensation, but received full military retirement or disability pay

If the Veteran died while on active duty, serving in Congress, or serving a federal prison sentence, they are disqualified from receiving Veteran death benefits, but may be eligible for benefits under different programs.

You must also apply for benefits within 2 years of a non-service-relative burial or cremation.

What are the benefits?

If eligible, you may receive a burial allowance for funeral costs, a VA plot or allowance for gravesite costs, and/or reimbursement for the costs of transporting the Veteran’s remains. Although the VA may help ease the costs of these services, you are responsible for paying the costs before applying for benefits. The VA may also provide reimbursement/allowance for the cost of transporting the Veteran’s remains to a national cemetery for burial.

How to apply?

To apply for Veterans funeral benefits, you can apply by following this link or by filling out the mail application on the VA website. When applying, you will need the following documents:

• The Veteran’s discharge papers (DD214 or other separation documents)

• The Veteran’s death certificate

• Proof of purchase/receipts for transportation of the Veteran’s remains

• A statement of account with the Veteran’s name, services purchased, any credits, and any unpaid balance listed from the owner/manager where the funeral/burial service happened

It’s important to note that if the surviving spouse is listed as the Veteran’s spouse on the Veteran’s profile, then the spouse will automatically receive benefits without the need to apply.

For more information on how to file Veteran death benefits, visit the VA page here.

— Constantine Desjardins