Burial Benefits – Veterans Service Commission of Clark County

What Are VA Burial Allowances?

The primary goal of the Veterans Service Commission’s financial assistance program is to assist veterans and their dependents who are in need of temporary or immediate financial assistance on a short-term basis. Short-term is generally sixty (60) days or less. Assistance for ongoing periods of time will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

BENEFIT

When the cause of death is not service-related, the reimbursements are generally described as two payments:

(1) a burial and funeral expense allowance

AND

(2) a plot interment allowance

Requests for burial in a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemetery cannot be made via the Internet.

ARRANGEMENTS

The VA does not make funeral arrangements or perform cremations.

Families should make these arrangements with a funeral provider or cremation office.

Any item or service obtained from a funeral home or cremation office will be at the family’s expense.

ELIGIBILITY

You may be eligible for a VA burial allowance if:

you paid for a veteran’s burial or funeral

AND

you have not been reimbursed by another government agency or some other source, such as the deceased veteran’s employer

AND

the veteran was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met:

the veteran died because of a service-related disability

the veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death

the veteran was entitled to receive VA pension or compensation, but decided not to reduce his/her military retirement or disability pay

the veteran died in a VA hospital, in a nursing home under VA contract, or while in an approved state nursing home.

BENEFITS

Service-Related Death

VA will pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses for deaths on or after September 11, 2001.

VA will pay up to $1,500 for deaths prior to September 10, 2001. If the veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost of transporting the deceased may be reimbursed.

Non Service-Related Death

VA will pay up to $300 toward burial and funeral expenses, and a $300 plot-interment allowance for deaths on or after December 1, 2001.

The plot-interment allowance is $150 for deaths prior to December 1, 2001.

If the death happened while the veteran was in a VA hospital or under VA contracted nursing home care, some or all of the costs for transporting the deceased’s remains may be reimbursed.

WHO TO CONTACT

For more information regarding burial benefits and funerals, please contact the Clark County Veterans Office at 937-521-2030 to schedule an appointment with a service officer.