When a loved one in your immediate family passes away, you may have the right to claim financial aid from the government. Two key sources of aid are veteran’s benefits, listed here, and survivor’s benefits.
If your loved one was a veteran and is being buried in a national or private cemetery, he or she may be entitled to burial benefits.
These benefits include a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Even if your loved one is being cremated, he or she has the right to burial benefits. Cremated remains are buried or inurned in national cemeteries with the same honors as casketed remains.
To place a claim for veteran’s benefits, your loved one must have been a veteran, and you must have paid for his or her burial or cremation. Additionally, there is a long list of veteran’s eligibility requirements, which you can find on the website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. You can also call the department directly at 800-827-1000.
A burial allowance is also available to some survivors. If your loved one’s death was service-connected, the amount of the allowance is higher (currently up to $2,000) than if it was not service-connected.
Burial benefits are not paid automatically. You will need to apply for them. Do this by filling out a VA form 21P-530. You can find much more information about the application process and your entitlement by going to the website of the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
We have highlighted the main Veteran’s Benefits, but other benefits are also offered, such as pension benefits, for survivors. Review the complete list of benefits here.
We are grateful for the selfless service performed by our veterans.