The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers burial benefits to assist with eligible veterans’ funeral and interment expenses. These benefits can help cover costs associated with both cremation and traditional burial services.
VA burial benefits
VA burial benefits are designed to provide financial assistance for veterans’ burial and funeral expenses. These benefits may include a burial allowance, a plot or interment allowance, and reimbursement for transportation costs to the final resting place. The VA provides burial benefits for all legal burial types, including cremation, burial at sea, and donating remains to a medical school.
Eligibility criteria for VA burial benefits
To qualify for VA burial allowances, certain conditions must be met:
- Relationship to the veteran: The individual applying must have a specific relationship to the veteran, such as being the surviving spouse, legal partner, child, parent, or executor of the veteran’s estate.
- Veteran’s discharge status: The veteran must not have received a dishonorable discharge.
- Circumstances of death: One of the following must be true:
- The veteran died as a result of a service-connected disability.
- The veteran died while receiving VA care, either at a VA facility or a facility contracted by the VA.
- The veteran died while traveling under VA authorization to or from a facility for examination, treatment, or care.
- The veteran died with an original or reopened claim for VA compensation or pension pending at the time of death, and they would have been entitled to benefits before death.
- The veteran was receiving a VA pension or compensation at the time of death.
- The veteran was eligible for compensation or a VA pension at the time of death but was instead receiving full military retirement or disability pay.
It’s important to note that burial allowances are not provided if the individual died on active duty, while serving as a member of Congress, or while serving a federal prison sentence.
Types of VA burial benefits
If eligible, applicants may receive:
- Burial allowance: A monetary benefit to help cover burial and funeral costs.
- Plot or interment allowance: Assistance with the cost of the burial plot or interment.
- Transportation reimbursement: Coverage for the cost of transporting the veteran’s remains to the final resting place.
These benefits apply to all legal burial types, including cremation and burial at sea. Cremated remains are treated with the same honors as casketed remains and can be buried or inurned in national cemeteries.
Application process and time limits
To apply for VA burial benefits, individuals can submit an application online or by mail. It’s essential to adhere to specific time limits when filing a claim:
- Non-service-connected death: Claims must be filed within two years after the veteran’s burial.
- Service-connected death: There is no time limit to file a claim.
Required documents may include the veteran’s death certificate, an itemized receipt for transportation costs (if applicable), and a copy of the veteran’s DD214 or other separation documents.
Recent updates to VA burial benefits
The VA has recently expanded burial benefits to provide greater support for veterans and their families. These enhancements aim to ensure that all eligible individuals receive the assistance they need during challenging times.
