Chapter 20

Burial in a national cemetery includes the following at no cost to the family

1. A gravesite in any of the 122 national cemeteries. (As of 2008) 2. Opening/closing of the grave. 3. Perpetual care. 4. Government headstone or marker. 5. A burial flag. 6. A Presidential Memorial Certificate.

Eligible spouses and dependents can receive the following at no cost to the family even if they pre-decease the veteran

1. Burial with the veteran. 2. Perpetual care. 3. Name with DOB and DOD inscribed on the veteran's headstone.

Burial Flags Eligibility Requirements

1. Served during wartime. 2. Died on active duty after May 27, 1941. 3. Served after January 31, 1955. 4. Peacetime veteran discharged or released before June 27, 1950 5. Served in the organized military forces of the Philippines while in the U.S. Armed Forces and who died on or after April 25, 1951. 6. A former member of the Selected Reserves.

Time limits for filing claims

1. Service-related deaths - No time limit. 2. Non-service-related deaths - Within two years of the burial.

Burial of dependent children is limited to

1. Unmarried children under 21, or 23 if a full-time student. 2. Unmarried adult children who become physically or mentally disabled and incapable of self-support before age 21, or 23 if a full-time student.

Service-related deaths Service-related deaths (Active duty or died of service-related injury)

1. Up to $2000.00 toward burial expenses. 2. If buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the costs for transporting remains may be reimbursed.

Non-service-related deaths

1. Up to $300.00 toward burial and funeral expenses. 2. Up to $300.00 as a plot/interment allowance (grave and opening/closing cost). 3. If death is in a VA hospital or under VA-contracted home health care, some or all of the cost of transporting remains may be reimbursed.

Burial and Plot-Interment Allowances Eligibility

1. Veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. 2. Died as a result of a service-related disability OR... 3. Was receiving a VA pension or compensation at the time of death OR... 4. Was entitled to receive a VA pension or compensation, but decided not to reduce military retirement or disability pay OR... 5. Died in a VA hospital, nursing home or hospice under VA contract, or an approved state nursing home

Family members eligible to receive monthly benefits include

1. Widow or widower age 60 or older or age 50 or older if disabled. 2. Surviving spouses caring for the deceased's child under age 16 or disabled. 3. An unmarried child of the deceased who is younger than 18, or 19 if full-time student in elementary or secondary school. 4. An unmarried child of the deceased who is age 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22. 5. Parents, 62 or older, who were dependent on the deceased for at least half of their support. 6. A surviving divorced spouse, under certain circumstances.

VA operates

122 national cemeteries (website lists 128). 83 are currently open for new interments and 21 accept only cremated remains

Social Security Benefits

A one-time death benefit of $255.00 is made to the surviving spouse if living with the deceased, or if living apart, was receiving SS benefits on the deceased's record. If no surviving spouse, payment may be made to a child who is eligible for benefits on the deceased's record in the month of death.

Veteran

A person who served in the active military, naval, or air service of the United States and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.

Burial Flags Application form is available

At any VA regional office or the U.S. Post Office

VA National Cemeteries

Burial available for eligible veterans, spouses, and dependents at no cost

Requests for Burial

Cannot be made via the internet. VA does not make funeral arrangements or perform cremations. Any item of service obtained from a funeral or cremation provider is at the family's expense.

Government Headstones and Markers

Eligible veterans are entitled to either the government headstone or marker or the medallion, but not both

Burial Flags Application

Is made on VA Form 21-2008, Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes

Presidential Memorial Certificates Application may be made at

a VA regional office, U.S. Mail, or toll-free FAX. Application cannot be made by email. Include copies of discharge and death certificate with application form.

Arranging for the placement and all setting fees are the

applicant's responsibility

Presidential Memorial Certificates may be applied for

by the next-of-kin, other loved ones, or their legal representatives on VA Form 40-0247. Include copies of discharge and death certificate with application form.

Military Funeral Honors

consists of two or more uniformed military persons, with at least one of which is a member of the veteran's parent service of the armed forces

Surviving spouses of veterans who died on or after January 1, 2000

do not lose eligibility for burial if they remarry

Burial options may include

either in-ground casket interment or cremated remains in a columbarium, buried in-ground, or in a scatter garden.

No burial benefits are available

for spouses and dependents buried in a private cemetery

Military Funeral Honors may be requested by

funeral directors or national VA cemeteries staff can assist when burial is in a VA national cemetery.

Cremated remains are buried or inurned

in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains

Beginning Spring, 2009, VA

may also provide a medallion that signifies the deceased's status as a veteran to be attached to privately-marked graves of veterans who died on or after November 1, 1990.

Veteran's organizations such as the V.F.W. and American Legion

may provide military honors

Military Funeral Honors at national cemeteries

must be arranged by the funeral director prior to the committal service.

Arrangements for burials in a national cemetery

must be made by the funeral director

Monthly SS benefit checks received by the deceased in the month of death or any later months

must be returned to SS

Military Funeral Honors Consists

of three rifle volley, bugler to play "Taps", and burial flag

Burial Flags are usually given

to the next-of-kin, or if no next-of-kin it may be given to a friend making the request. May also be donated to certain VA national cemeteries

VA will pay the veteran's allowance

to the person (or entity) who paid for the veteran's burial or funeral and has not been reimbursed by another government agency or some other source.

Regardless of DOD, VA

will furnish a government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of an eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world

Social Security

Notification of death should be made ASAP. In most cases, this is done by the funeral director on SS Form SSA-721. Notification may also be done by FAX.

Burial Flags

Provided at no cost to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran who served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces

Government Headstones and Markers

Provided for all eligible veterans who died on or after November 1, 1990, regardless of whether the grave is already marked with a privately-purchased headstone or marker. (Replaces previous date of September 11, 2001)

Apply for VA burial allowance on

VA Form 21-530, along with a certified death certificate and copies of the paid funeral and/or burial bills.

How Much Does VA Pay According to

VA website 6/18/09