Veterans Benefits and Burial After a Death: A Complete Guide

When a veteran passes away, their service to the country entitles them and their family to specific honors and benefits, including assistance with burial and funeral costs. Navigating the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can feel overwhelming, especially while grieving. This guide provides a clear, step-by-step path to help you understand and secure the veterans benefits your loved one earned.

Losing a loved one is incredibly difficult, and the responsibilities that follow can be confusing. There isn’t a single master list of benefits, but there are structured steps an executor or next of kin can take to ensure a veteran receives the proper honors and that their survivors receive any entitled support. Here’s how to get started.

First Steps: Confirming Eligibility and Finding Key Documents

Before you can apply for any benefits, you first need to confirm the deceased’s veteran status and locate their proof of service. This single document is the key to unlocking most military death benefits.

Who Qualifies as a Veteran?

Generally, a veteran is anyone who served in the active military, naval, or air service and was separated under any condition other than dishonorable. This includes anyone honorably discharged from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. Members of the National Guard and Reserves may also be eligible depending on their service record.

The Most Important Document: DD Form 214

The most critical document you will need is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. This one-page form is the official summary of a service member's time in the military and serves as proof of service for the VA and other organizations.

• For National Guard members, the equivalent form may be NGB Form 22, Report of Separation and Record of Service.

Look for this form among your loved one’s important papers, in a safe deposit box, or with their will and estate planning documents.

What if I Can’t Find the DD 214?

If you cannot locate the DD 214, don't worry. You can request a copy from the government.

• Request Online: The fastest way is to request military service records online through the National Archives.
• Request by Mail or Fax: You can also complete and mail Standard Form 180 (SF-180) to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). Be prepared for potential delays with this method.

You will need to provide the veteran’s full name, service number or Social Security number, branch of service, and dates of service.

A Step-by-Step Guide to VA Benefits After Death

Once you have the proof of service, you can begin the process of notifying agencies and applying for benefits. We recommend tackling these tasks in order.

Step 1: Notify Relevant Government Agencies

If your loved one was receiving any recurring payments from the VA or military, you must notify the correct agencies promptly to stop them. Payments are not prorated and cease on the date of death. Any funds received after this date will need to be returned, so acting quickly can prevent complications.

• Military Retired Pay: Contact the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) to report the death. You can notify them online or call their customer service line at 1-800-321-1080. They will need a copy of the death certificate to finalize the process.
• VA Disability Compensation or Pension: Call the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) at 1-800-827-1000 to report the death and stop these payments.
• VA-Issued Medical Equipment: If the veteran had VA-issued equipment, like a prosthetic device, wheelchair, or hospital bed, contact the Prosthetics Department at the nearest VA medical center to arrange for its return.
• Unsure Where to Start?: If you're not sure which benefits your loved one was receiving, the VA Office of Survivors Assistance is an excellent resource. They can help you identify potential benefits and guide you through the next steps.

Step 2: Apply for VA Burial and Funeral Benefits

One of the most significant veterans benefits is the VA burial. Eligible veterans, their spouses, and dependents can be buried in a VA national cemetery at no cost to the family.

Eligibility for VA Burial: All veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable are generally eligible. You can confirm eligibility in advance by applying for a pre-need determination.

What’s Included in a VA National Cemetery Burial? If you choose burial in one of the 155 national cemeteries, the following are provided free of charge:

• A gravesite
• Opening and closing of the grave
• A government-provided grave liner for casketed remains
• A government headstone or marker
• Perpetual care of the gravesite

Important Note: The VA burial benefit does not cover funeral home costs, such as embalming, cremation, a casket, or transportation of the remains. These costs are the responsibility of the family.

Burial in a Private Cemetery: If you choose to bury the veteran in a private cemetery, the VA will still provide certain benefits upon request:

• A government-provided headstone, marker, or medallion
• A burial flag
• A Presidential Memorial Certificate

To apply for these benefits, you or your funeral director can submit VA Form 21P-530, Application for Burial Benefits.

Step 3: Secure Memorial Items

Memorial items are provided to honor the veteran's service. These are available to all eligible veterans, regardless of where they are buried.

• U.S. Burial Flag: An American flag is provided to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran. It is given to the next of kin as a keepsake after the funeral service. Your funeral director will typically help you obtain the flag by submitting VA Form 27-2008, Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes.
• Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC): This is a certificate engraved with the President’s signature, expressing the nation's gratitude for the veteran's service. You can apply by mailing or faxing a completed VA Form 40-0247 along with a copy of the DD 214 and the death certificate. Multiple copies can be requested for family members.

Step 4: Explore Financial Assistance for Survivors

In addition to burial honors, the VA offers several forms of financial assistance to help with expenses and provide ongoing support for eligible survivors.

Burial and Plot Allowance

The VA may provide a burial allowance, which is a partial reimbursement of a veteran’s funeral and burial costs.

• For a service-related death: The VA may pay up to $2,000.
• For a non-service-related death: If the veteran was hospitalized by the VA at the time of death, the VA may pay up to $948 for burial expenses and $948 for a plot. If not hospitalized by the VA, the amount is $474 for burial and $474 for a plot. (Note: These amounts are for deaths on or after October 1, 2023. Check the official VA website for the most current rates.)

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of service members who died in the line of duty or from a service-related injury or illness. A surviving spouse, child, or parent may be eligible.

Survivors Pension

The Survivors Pension (also called the Death Pension) is a tax-free monthly payment to a low-income, un-remarried surviving spouse and/or unmarried children of a deceased veteran with wartime service. Eligibility is based on the deceased veteran's service record and the survivor's annual family income.

Locating Documents and Managing the Estate

Securing military death benefits is a critical task, but it’s often just one piece of the larger estate settlement puzzle. Finding the DD 214 can be challenging, as can locating other essential documents like a will, life insurance policies, or bank statements. This is where an organized approach is crucial. For executors managing these responsibilities, a platform like Heirloom can provide step-by-step guidance and tools like secure document storage to keep everything organized in one place.

Frequently Asked Questions About Military Death Benefits

1. Who is eligible for a VA burial? Any member of the Armed Forces who dies on active duty, or any veteran who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, is eligible. Their spouse, minor children, and certain unmarried adult children with disabilities are also eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery.

2. How much does the VA pay for a veteran's funeral? The VA does not pay directly for funeral home costs. Instead, it may provide a burial and plot allowance as a partial reimbursement after the fact. The amount varies based on whether the death was service-related and where the veteran was at the time of death, ranging from a few hundred dollars to $2,000 for service-related deaths.

3. How do I get a military burial flag? Typically, your funeral director will help you obtain a burial flag. You can also get one from a VA regional office or a U.S. Post Office by completing VA Form 27-2008 and providing a copy of the veteran's discharge papers.

4. Can a spouse be buried with a veteran in a national cemetery? Yes. The spouse or surviving spouse of an eligible veteran is also eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery, even if they pass away before the veteran. Eligible dependent children can also be buried with the veteran.

5. What is a DD Form 214 and why is it so important? The DD Form 214 is the official Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. It is the primary document used by the VA to verify a veteran's service and determine their eligibility for all veterans benefits, including VA burial, healthcare, and survivor benefits.

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Navigating veterans benefits is just one part of the complex estate settlement process. For executors feeling overwhelmed, Heirloom provides a comprehensive platform with personalized, step-by-step guidance for every task, from discovering assets to notifying beneficiaries. Our tools, like the asset discovery search and secure document storage, are designed to bring clarity and confidence to a difficult time. Learn more at heirloom.care.

Heirloom is not a law firm and cannot provide legal advice. This content is for informational purposes only. Heirloom can only provide self-help services at users' specific direction.