If the veteran qualifies, you may receive a VA burial allowance for burial and funeral costs, VA plot or internment allowance for the cost of the plot (gravesite) or internment, or VA transportation reimbursement for the cost of transporting the veteran's remains to the final resting place.

You can find the eligibility requirements and payouts HERE on the VA's website.

The VA will provide a United States flag to drape on a casket (or coffin) or place with an urn in honor of the military service of a Veteran or Reservist.

Eligibility:

One of these must describe the service of the Veteran or Reservist:

• They served in wartime, or
• They died while serving on active duty after May 27, 1941, or
• They served after January 31, 1955, or
• They served in peacetime and left military service before June 27, 1950, after serving at least 1 enlistment, or because of a disability that was caused—or made worse—by their active military service, or
• They served in the Selected Reserves (in certain cases), or served in the military forces of the Philippines while in service of the United States and died on or after April 25, 1951.

Eligible veterans are veterans who:

• Served honorably in the U.S. armed forces. After September 7, 1980, the veteran must have served for a minimum of 24 months or the full period for which the veteran was called to active duty unless special circumstances make them otherwise eligible such as the veteran died on active duty, or
• Reservists or National Guard members who, at the time of death, were entitled to retired pay or would have been entitled but for being under the age of 60, or
• Reservists or National Guard members who died while on active duty or as a result of training. Members who only have active duty service for training are not eligible.

A spouse may be added to a VA Grave Marker ONLY IF the veteran passed AFTER October 1, 2019

*Veterans must be buried in cemeteries. Burial on private land renders a veteran’s grave ineligible for a VA grave marker. Spouses and dependents are only eligible for VA grave markers if buried in a national or state veterans cemetery.

Types of Markers:

The VA also offers a medallion that can be placed on a private marker in lieu of a VA grave marker. The medallion comes in 1 1/2″, 3″, and 5″, and they are not personalized like the grave marker.

The VA will provide, at no expense, certificates which honor the veteran’s memory. These certificates are stamped with the current president’s signature and can be requested for as many family members as desired.

A surviving spouse of a veteran may be entitled to a tax-free monetary benefit upon the veterans death.

Eligibility 

The Veteran

• The service member died on Active Duty OR;
• The veteran died of a service-connected illness or injury OR;
• The veteran was totally disabled (P&T) for at least 10 years before death

The Surviving Spouse

• The spouse was married to the veteran for at least 1 year
• The spouse lived with the veteran without a break until their death OR;
• The spouse remarried on or after December 16, 2003, and you were 57 years or older

Benefit

If the surviving spouse qualifies, they may receive a tax-free benefit per month and may also receive other benefits as well

The current monthly benefit for 2024 is $1,612.75

*Please contact our office to assist you with these benefits