U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits do not cover all the funeral or
cremation arrangements of honorably discharged veterans.
Certain monetary, recognition and service benefits may be available; however,
reimbursement for funeral or cremation service expenses is limited and usually only applies to veterans who:
- Retire from the Armed Services, or
- Were disabled due to a service-related injury, or
- Died in a VA hospital or while in a nursing home under VA contract.
Standard guidelines are provided as an overview, but only the VA can rule on your exact benefits.
You will need documentation to verify military service. (DD-214)
You will normally be required to provide a “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty” document to verify military service. (Before 1950 it is commonly known as the Report of Separation which includes the documents WD AGO 53, WD AGO 55, WD AGO 53-55, NAVPERS 553, NAVMC 78PD and the NAVCG 553. After 1950 it is known as the DD 214). All documents are forms of a veteran’s discharge papers.
A veteran’s family must request a United States flag.
A flag is provided at no cost to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran. Only one flag may be provided per veteran. An “Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes” (VA Form 21-2008) must be submitted along with a copy of the veteran’s discharge papers. Flags may be obtained from
VA regional offices and most U.S. Post Offices. Your Neptune Society provider will help your family request your flag.
Military funeral honors ceremonies must be scheduled in advance.
The law entitles every eligible veteran to receive a military funeral honors ceremony, which includes the folding and presentation of the
United States flag and the playing of “Taps,” upon the family’s request.
This Department of Defense program calls for the funeral director to request military funeral honors on behalf of the veteran’s family. Your Neptune Society provider works with various veterans organizations to assist in the
provision of military funeral honors.
As a veteran you may qualify for certain funeral benefits – but they don’t come
automatically. In most cases someone must request them, which can be time-
consuming and stressful for your family. Neptune Society™ providers are
available to assist you with preparing your requests before they are needed.
Over 1700 veterans pass away daily, and generally, there are little or no veteran
government benefits for their funeral or cremation services. You were there for us, and we will be there for you:
Call 1-888-637-8863
http://www.NeptuneSociety.com
California FDs 1359, 1289, 1309, 2031
For additional information regarding prepaid funeral contracts in Texas, please visit http://www.prepaidfunerals.texas.gov, which is maintained by the Texas Department of Banking.
In sponsorship through the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), America’s largest organization of combat veterans. Important 10 Facts About your VA Burial/Cremation Benefits:
Veterans’ caskets are not free.
As a standard policy, neither the VA nor the various branches of service provide a free casket or urn for a deceased veteran, unless death occurs while on active duty. As part of our service to veterans, Neptune Society providers offer urns and other merchandise at a discounted price to members of the Veterans
of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion.
A “Presidential Memorial Certificate” must be requested.
Provided through a program initiated in March 1962 by President John F. Kennedy, an engraved paper “Presidential Memorial Certificate” signed by the current President is provided to families to honor the memory of
honorably discharged, deceased veterans. Eligible recipients, or someone acting on their behalf, may apply in person at any VA regional office or by U.S. mail. Your Neptune Society provider can assist your family in obtaining this certificate.
In order to receive burial and funeral benefits, as well as plot allowances, there are specific requirements that must be met such as: - The veteran died because of a service-related disability, OR
- The veteran was receiving or was entitled to receive a VA pension or compensation at the time of death, OR
- The veteran while hospitalized by VA, or while receiving care under VA contract at a non-VA facility. Based upon eligibility requirements described earlier, for non-service-related deaths on or after October 1, 2011, VA will pay up to $700.00 toward burial and funeral expenses (if hospitalized by VA at time of death), or $300.00 toward burial and funeral expenses (if not hospitalized by VA at time
of death), and a $700.00 plot-interment allowance (if not buried in a national cemetery). An annual increase in burial and plot allowances will be based on the Consumer Price Index for the preceding 12-month period.
There are eligibility requirements for burial in a VA national cemetery.
Any member of the Armed Forces who dies while on active duty or any veteran who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable is entitled
to burial in a VA national cemetery. Under certain conditions, the surviving spouse and minor children of an eligible person may also be entitled to this benefit. In addition, non-veteran parents may be interred in a national cemetery with their child if that child was killed in combat and has no other eligible survivors. In order for such burial to occur, an official must determine that there is available space. Burial in a VA National Cemetery includes: - An assigned gravesite (if space is available)
- Opening and closing of the grave
- A grave liner for casketed remains
- A government headstone or marker
- Perpetual care at no cost to the family Cremated remains are buried or inurned in VA national cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains. If you are considering burial in VA national cemetery, you should be aware of the following information:
- You may not reserve space in a VA national cemetery ahead of time. VA national cemeteries only allow arrangements to be made at the time of death, so there is no guarantee that spouses or other family members will be interred side by side or even nearby.
- Burials in VA national cemeteries are usually not
conducted on weekends.
- Headstones, markers or medallions for a burial space in a private cemetery must be requested. Any deceased veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable is eligible for a standard Government headstone, marker or
medallion. The VA, upon request and at no charge to the applicant, will furnish a Government headstone or marker for the grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world. A bronze medallion in several sizes is also available to be placed on existing privately purchased headstones or markers. The Government is not responsible for costs associated with affixing the medallion to the privately purchased headstone or marker. Upright headstones
are available in granite or marble, and flat markers are available in granite, marble, or bronze. The style must be consistent with existing monuments or
markers at the place of burial. Niche markers for cremated remains are also available. An “Application for Standard Government Headstone or Marker for Installation in a Private or State Veteran’s Cemetery” (VA Form 40-1330)
must be submitted for headstones or markers. VA Form 40-1330M must be submitted if requesting the medallion. If your family does not have form
40-1330 or VA form 40-1330M, Neptune Society will help secure one.
The issuance or replacement of military service medals, awards and decorations
must be requested in writing. For deceased veterans, requests for medals
will be accepted from the next-of-kin. Requests should be submitted in writing to the appropriate military service branch division of the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). To submit a request, use Standard Form 180 (SF-180),
available through the VA or downloadable through the NPRC website. There is generally no charge for medal or award replacements. For more information, or for the mailing address of the military branch office to submit your request to, call 1-866-272-6272 or visit the NPRC website at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/.
If your family does not have the necessary form, Neptune Society will help secure one. Call today if you have questions, tell them Coletha Albert sent you. - If you have additional questions email me at coletha.albert@outlook.com or text me at 206-379-4999.
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