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Veterans Benefits

Our veterans deserve to be honored and recognized for their sacrifices. This is especially true after they pass away, whether that death was service related or not. Veterans and their families may be able to receive monetary allowances to reimburse certain burial related expenses, honorary tributes as part of a funeral or memorial service, and special memorial and keepsake items. These benefits are intended to help honor the veteran’s life and express gratitude for their contributions to our nation.

Understanding Veteran Eligibility and Requirements:

Veteran eligibility for burial benefits, death benefits, and memorial items hinges on various factors, primarily verified through the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214). Pre-1950, different military branches utilized similar forms. In the absence of a DD Form 214, alternative documents demonstrating honorable discharge may suffice, and replacements can be obtained through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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Eligibility Requirements:

Active duty service members and Selected Reserve members are typically eligible.

Former service members with honorable discharge are generally eligible, barring dishonorable discharge.
Those completing at least one enlistment period in the Selected Reserves, without dishonorable discharge, qualify.
Former Selective Reserve members discharged due to service-related disabilities are eligible.

Veterans Burial Allowance:

A burial allowance, also sometimes called a “veterans death benefit”, may be available to help offset any burial, funeral, and transportation costs related to a veteran’s death. You will need to pay for these services in advance and then apply for the allowance, however it is an option if these expenses are not being reimbursed by another agency or the veteran’s employer.

The amount of a burial allowance varies based on the veteran’s date of death and whether the death was service related. There is also an additional allowance amount for a headstone or marker. Your funeral director can help you determine eligibility and the amount of any potential allowances. You can also find more information regarding burial allowances here.

Burial Flag:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a United States flag at no cost to the next-of-kin of a deceased veteran. The flag is provided as a keepsake designed to honor the memory of the veteran. It is typically used during the funeral or memorial service during the flag folding and presentation ceremony detailed above before being presented to the family or next-of-kin. 

Family members or close friends of the veteran may apply for a burial flag if the veteran meets one of the following eligibility requirements: 

  • The veteran served during wartime
  • They died while serving on active duty after May 27, 1941
  • The veteran served after January 31, 1955
  • They served in peacetime and were discharged or released from service before June 27, 1950 after serving at least one enlistment or were discharged due to disability that was caused or made worse by active military service. 
  • In certain cases, those who served in the Selected Reserves and those who served in the organized military forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines while in service of the U.S. Armed Forces and who died on or after April 25, 1951.

Burial Flag:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a United States flag at no cost to the next-of-kin of a deceased veteran. The flag is provided as a keepsake designed to honor the memory of the veteran. It is typically used during the funeral or memorial service during the flag folding and presentation ceremony detailed above before being presented to the family or next-of-kin. 

Family members or close friends of the veteran may apply for a burial flag if the veteran meets one of the following eligibility requirements: 

  • The veteran served during wartime
  • They died while serving on active duty after May 27, 1941
  • The veteran served after January 31, 1955
  • They served in peacetime and were discharged or released from service before June 27, 1950 after serving at least one enlistment or were discharged due to disability that was caused or made worse by active military service. 
  • In certain cases, those who served in the Selected Reserves and those who served in the organized military forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines while in service of the U.S. Armed Forces and who died on or after April 25, 1951.