"…to care for him who shall have borne the
battle and for his widow and his orphan…"
-
Abraham Lincoln -
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What is the purpose of this site?
Veterans who served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces deserve a
proper burial. There is a risk that veterans whose remains are unclaimed, and
not identified as veterans, will be buried in pauper graves. We ask for your
assistance in helping VA eliminate that risk. The following information is
intended to make you aware that there are burial benefits for eligible
veterans, and that we are prepared to assist in any way possible.
Who is a "veteran"?
A veteran means a person who served in the active military,
naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other
than dishonorable.
How can you verify veteran status of an unclaimed
decedent?
Verification requests for veteran status of adult decedents
should be made to VA regional offices, medical facilities, or VA national
cemeteries. By calling the VA toll-free benefits number, 1-800-827-1000,
you will reach a representative who can verify if a decedent was a veteran and
if VA burial benefits are in order. Contact your nearest
VA regional office
representative.
Note: VA is not able to verify veteran status of
unidentified remains. The
Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) should be contacted for assistance in this type of
case.
What information is required for verification?
The information needed for verification is the decedent's name
and VA claim number (if known). Otherwise, as much of the following information
as possible will be useful: Social Security number, date of birth, branch of
military service, service number, and service dates.
What happens if immediate verification cannot be
made?
When the VA representative contacted is not able to fully verify
veteran status from computer records, a process is activated to investigate
further and follow up with the inquirer. If there is a claims file for the
veteran, it will be reviewed. If necessary, assistance will be sought from the
VA Records Management Center or the National Personnel Records Center where
veterans' military records are stored. The turnaround time for VA verification
generally ranges from immediate to three days. The result will be one of the
following:
- The decedent was a veteran, and eligible for VA burial
monetary benefits.
- The decedent was a veteran but ineligible for burial monetary
benefits.
- There are no records identifying military service by the
decedent.
What is the purpose of VA burial benefits?
VA burial benefits help to offset the costs of the veteran's
burial, funeral, and plot-interment.
How much does VA pay?
Service-Related Deaths. If a military
service-related injury or disease caused the veteran's death, VA will pay up to
$2,000 toward burial expenses. If the veteran is buried in a VA national
cemetery, some or all of the costs for transporting the veteran's remains may
be reimbursed.
Certain Non Service-Related Deaths. VA will pay
up to $300 toward burial and funeral expenses, and $300 as a plot-interment
allowance. If the veteran died in a VA hospital or under VA contracted home
care, some or all of the costs for transporting the deceased's remains may be
reimbursed.
What are the eligibility criteria for non service-related death
benefits?
- The veteran was receiving VA compensation or pension at the
time of death, OR
- The veteran was entitled to receive VA compensation or but
decided not to reduce his/her military retirement or disability pay, OR
- The veteran died in a VA hospital or while in a nursing home
under VA contract, or while in an approved state nursing home, OR
- There is no next of kin or other person claiming the remains
of the veteran, and there are not available sufficient resources to cover
burial and funeral costs, and the veteran served honorably in the U.S. Armed
Forces during any war or was discharged from the military because of a
service-connected disability.
Who may be paid the VA burial and plot-interment
allowances?
Generally, VA will pay the allowances 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 such as the veteran's employer.
What is the application process?
Apply for VA burial allowances by completing VA Form 21-530
(Application for Burial Allowance). A death certificate (if not already
furnished to VA) and copies of paid funeral and burial bills should be
attached. The application should be submitted to the VA regional office serving
the claimant's area.
What is the time limit to apply for burial
allowances?
There is no time limit for claiming reimbursement of burial
expenses for a service-related death. In non service-related deaths, the claim
must be filed within 2 years of the veteran's burial.
Are there related VA benefits?
The following are additional VA benefits for eligible
veterans:
- Burial Flag
- A United States flag is provided for veterans who served honorably. The
purpose of the flag is to drape the veteran's casket. The flag should be
presented to the veteran's next of kin immediately after the burial.
- Burial at VA
National Cemeteries - Any veteran with honorable service is eligible
for burial at a VA national cemetery. The
nearest cemetery should be
contacted for arrangements. Veterans are also eligible for burial at state
veterans cemeteries.
- Headstone and
Marker - A headstone or marker is provided for the burial of veterans
who served honorably. The National Cemetery Administration arranges that for
burial at its national cemeteries. On application, VA will also provide a
headstone or marker for burials at other cemeteries.
- Presidential
Memorial Certificate. A certificate honoring the memory of veterans who
served honorably is sent to the veteran's next of kin, and other loved ones on
request. The certificate bears the President's signature.
Coroners & Medical Examiners
Generally, coroners and medical examiners are responsible for
the disposition of unclaimed remains. In some jurisdictions, sheriffs and
justices of the peace are responsible. It is important that they contact VA to
verify the veteran status of all identified adult decedents who are unclaimed
and indigent. Decedents verified as veterans may be buried in a VA national
cemetery or state veterans cemetery, and other burial benefits may apply.
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