BENEFITS FOR SURVIVORS OF VETERANS
State veteran counselors and veteran service agency directors provide specialized
counseling on benefits available to the survivors of veterans and servicemen, under the
different programs established by local, state, and federal laws. You may contact the
Department of Veteran Affairs office by calling 1-800-827-1000 if you should have
questions regarding the following benefits.
BURIAL ALLOWANCE
An authorized Federal Government burial allowance up to $300.00 is provided by the
Veterans Administration to the Survivor of Person who pays the funeral expenses of an
eligible Veteran, providing however, the Veteran either dies in a Veterans Administration
Hospital, or is receiving, or eligible to receive a Veterans disability compensation or a
Veterans pension at the time of his death. An additional $150.00 plot or interment
allowance may also be provided. (This $150.00 is subject to the same eligibility
requirements as the $300.00 burial allowance stated above.)
IN SERVICE DEATH BENEFIT
When a veterans death is service connected, burial and funeral expenses may be paid in
an amount of $1500.00, which is in lieu of the $300.00 basic burial allowance and the
$150.00 plot interment allowance.
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation costs, if eligible, are in addition to the non-service and service connected
benefits.
UNITED STATES FLAG
A United States flag is available for a war-time veteran, a veteran discharged or
released because of a service connected disability, or a veteran who has served at least
one enlistment. The flag is presented to the next of kin following burial or cremation
services.
BURIAL IN NATIONAL CEMETERIES
This is available to any veteran of a war-time or peace-time service whose last period of
service (other than for training) terminated honorable. Reservists who die while
performing active duty for training, an eligible veteran's wife, husband, widow, widower,
minor children, and under certain conditions, unmarried adult children are also eligible.
U.S. citizens who served in time of war in the Armed Forces of an allied Government
may also be eligible. All expenses incident to the grave site and actual interment are
provided without charge. Application should be made at the time of the veteran's death.
HEADSTONE OR MARKER
The government will furnish, free of cost a headstone, or marker to be placed at the
unmarked grave of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or Confederate
States of America who died in service or whose last discharge was honorable. The next
of kin has a choice of four different markers or headstones at the time application is
made.
Note: A widow/widower visiting a Veterans Administration office should have with
her/him as many of the following documents and facts as possible. Do not delay
contacting the office because all of the items are not readily available.
1. Veterans Discharge
2. Veterans G.I. Insurance Policy if covered
3. Marriage or divorce certificate
4. Birth certificates of minor or disabled children
5. Amounts of all Life Insurance
6. Amounts of all savings accounts, checking accounts, stocks, bonds, etc.
7. Expenses of deceased's last illness
8. Certified copy of death certificate
9. Record of Social Security Payments
10. Copy of funeral statement
