There are many benefits offered by the VA that, unfortunately, many veterans are not aware of. These benefits are well earned and veterans should know about them. For instance, did you know that the VA offers burial and memorial benefits to qualifying veterans and, in some instances, spouses of veterans? Here, we discuss what exactly may be available to you in the way of burial and memorial benefits offered by the VA.
What Burial and Memorial Benefits are Offered by the VA?
The type of burial and memorial benefits offered by the VA will largely depend on a few factors, including when the veteran passed away, how the veteran passed away, and where the veteran wants to be laid to arrest. For service-related deaths, the VA pays up to $2,000 to cover burial costs if the veteran died on or after September 11, 2001. For deaths before September 11, 2001, the VA paid up to $1,500. Should the veteran be buried in a VA national cemetery, the cost of transporting the deceased will be covered in full or in part.
For non-service-related deaths, the VA will pay up to $796 to help cover the cost of burial and funeral expenses for deaths that occurred on or after October 1, 2019, if the veteran was hospitalized by the VA at the time or death, or $300 to help cover the cost of burial and funeral if the veteran was not hospitalized by the VA at the time of death. There is also a $796 plot-internment allowance for those who are not buried in a national cemetery.
Did you know that the Veterans Administration operates more than 100 national cemeteries across the country? Qualifying persons can be buried in these cemeteries at no cost. The burial benefits offered by the VA for burial in a national cemetery include the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care of the gravesite, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate at no cost to the family. Some veterans may also qualify for burial allowances.
Should a veteran be buried in a private cemetery, he or she may still be entitled to government burial benefits including a government headstone or marker, as well as a burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate at no cost to the family. Additional burial allowances may also be available, but there are no benefits available to spouses and dependents of a veteran who is buried in a private cemetery.
To be eligible for burial allowance benefits, certain eligibility requirements must be met. For instance, the person seeking the benefits must have paid for a veteran’s burial or funeral and has not been reimbursed by another government agency or some other source. Additionally, the veteran must have been honorably discharged.
To apply for veteran’s burial and memorial benefits, you may go online to fill out an application. In the alternative, you may complete a paper application or go to your local regional benefit office. You may also choose to work with an accredited representative to access these benefits.
Veterans Benefits Attorney
At Monk Law, we are proud to serve veterans and their loved ones. If you need help accessing benefits offered by the VA, we are here for you. Contact Monk Law today.