There are many misconceptions about Veterans Burial Benefits. I’ve heard it both ways. Many families think that because the decedent did not serve in a war he or she is not entitled to any benefits. I’ve also experienced many families that assume there are thousands of dollars available to Veteran’s upon death. Both are not completely true and that is why it is time to dig into Veterans burial benefits.
First and foremost, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs defines a veteran as “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.” If you are still uncertain of the qualifications of a Veteran, I provided the link at the end for an in-depth description of a Veteran status. There are certain burial benefits for ALL Veterans and some Veterans may also be eligible for burial allowances. Most of these benefits require a DD-214, which is the discharge paperwork in order to prove the Veteran status. If your loved one does not have this document, there are ways to obtain it, but it does take weeks, sometimes months until the document is in hand.
Benefits for ALL Veterans:
Burial Allowances
Now, some Veterans may be eligible for Burial Allowances. Here are the specific requirements for all burial allowances:
“The Veteran must not have received a dishonorable discharge, and one of these circumstances must be true:
Or:
Most of the Veterans we have the honor of serving at our funeral home do not meet these requirements. Of course it doesn’t hurt to try and obtain these burial allowances even if you are not sure if the person qualifies, but it does require an extensive application.
Military Honors
When it comes to military honors being performed at the funeral service, the funeral director will contact a local group that offers military honors. Most of the time, we use the Erie Crawford County Burial Detail. This group will fold and present the flag while giving a detailed explanation of what the flag represents. After the presentation of the flag, the firing party will present arms and fire shots three times. The service concludes with the playing of taps. The groups that provide military honors do not require payment, but a donation is often made to the group in order to support their efforts. I highly recommend requesting this service for a Veteran. This ceremony is absolutely beautiful, and it is much deserved for someone who has served our country.
In conclusion, there are many burial benefits for Veterans but it does take time to fill out applications and forms for each one. That is what we are here for! If you or a loved one has a Veteran status, please start the process of obtaining a DD-214. We can help with that too!
God Bless You and God Bless America!
A special thank you to all of our Veterans and especially the Veterans entrusted into our care.
Adrienne (Kloecker) Kalivoda
Bringing a New Face to the Funeral Business
Below is a list of all the applications, forms, and other helpful links for Veterans Benefits:
Application for Burial Benefits: https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21P-530EZ-ARE.pdf
Application for Burial Flag: https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-27-2008-ARE.pdf
Headstone Request Form: https://www.va.gov/vaforms/va/pdf/VA40-1330.pdf
Presidential Memorial Certificate Request Form: https://www.va.gov/vaforms/va/pdf/VA40-0247.pdf
Request for DD-214: https://www.archives.gov/files/standard-form-180.pdf
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs https://www.va.gov/OSDBU/docs/Determining-Veteran-Status.pdf
VA national cemeteries: https://www.cem.va.gov/find-cemetery/
Veterans Burial Allowances: How To Apply For A Veterans Burial Allowance | Veterans Affairs (va.gov)