What to Do When a Veteran Dies
Losing a loved one is an incredibly difficult time in anyone’s life. When a Veteran passes away, there are additional steps that a family can and needs to take in order to notify the right organizations. Here’s what to do if you’ve recently lost a loved one who was a veteran.
Does the family of a veteran receive any benefits when a veteran dies?
If a veteran dies, who pays for the funeral? Families struggling with the death of a veteran may be surprised to learn that the Veterans Administration can assist their family in paying for the funeral expenses for their loved one, even if the veteran was a retired service member. Learn how your family can get financial assistance through the Veterans Administration death benefits program.
Does the military pay for funerals for veterans?
One of the benefits that a service member may be eligible for upon their death is reimbursement for funeral expenses. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers burial benefits for veterans that can provide some financial assistance to cover the costs of a veteran's funeral.
The VA will pay up to $2000 toward burial and funeral expenses for any honorably discharged veteran who dies of a service-related injury or illness. The VA will also pay up to $796 as a plot-interment allowance for non-service related deaths. In addition to the $796, the VA will pay $300 toward funeral and burial expenses if the veteran wasn't hospitalized by the VA at the time of passing.
Does the military provide retired military burial benefits?
If the veteran who passed away was a retired service member, his or her spouse would still receive these benefits, so long as they met the eligibility requirements set forth by the VA. Death benefits are not just restricted to newer veterans, World War 2 Veterans still receive death benefits, for example. Some of these requirements include that you paid for the funeral, you weren't reimbursed by another government agency, and the Veteran had a discharge condition that was other than dishonorable. For a full list of eligibility requirements, visit the VA's official page.
Does the VA pay for cremation?
The VA doesn't only provide VA burial benefits, they can also help you cover the cost of a cremation. While they won't pay for the cremation cost directly, the family is reimbursed for a portion of the funeral expenses, which can be applied toward paid-for cremation costs. Additionally, if the veteran is buried in a national cemetery, the $796 plot-interment allowance can be used towards interred or buried remains, even if they were cremated.
Does the VA provide burial benefits for spouses of veterans?
No, the VA does not provide burial benefits for the burial of spouses of veterans. VA burial benefits are for the veterans themselves.
How can I apply for VA death benefits?
There are a few ways to apply for VA death benefits, including:
- Filling out the Veterans Burial Benefits Form.
- Work with an (accredited) representative.
- Visit your local regional benefits office and turn in the application for processing.
Are there other benefits for the survivors of Veterans?
Yes, there are other benefits that can help out a family after a Veteran has passed away. No matter your situation, it's generally worth it to look into what benefits you can access after losing a loved one as you may find benefits that are incredibly helpful, especially if you're struggling to cover any expenses.
Another benefit you may be eligible for (and should look into) is the VA Survivors Pension. In order to be eligible for this benefit, the following must be true:
- You haven’t remarried after the Veteran’s passing
- Your yearly household income and net worth meet the state limits set forth by Congress, which is currently set at $138,489.
- The deceased Veteran did not receive a dishonorable discharge, and
- The deceased Veteran’s service meets one of the eligibility requirements below:
- The Veteran started active duty either on or before September 7, 1980 and served at least 90 days in active military service, with at least 1 day during a covered wartime period, or
- The Veteran began active duty after September 7, 1980 and served at least 24 months (or the full period which they were ordered to active duty -- there are some exceptions to this), with at least 1 day during a covered wartime period, or
- The veteran was an officer who started active duty after October 16, 1981 and had not previously served in active duty for at least 24 months.
If you’re the child of the deceased Veteran, you may be eligible provided that you’re currently unmarried and meet at least one following requirements:
- You’re under 18
- You’re under 234 and attend a VA-approved school
- You’re not able to care for yourself due to a disability (the disability must have happened before you turned 18)
To apply for VA Survivors Pension:
- Fill out and upload your form online.
- Fill out VA Form 21P-534EZ and mail the completed form to:
Department of Veterans Affairs Pension Intake Center PO Box 5365 Janesville, WI 53547-5365
- Complete the application and bring it to a VA regional office.
When a veteran dies, what does the spouse need to do?
There are certain tasks you should take care of after a veteran dies to ensure you're receiving your benefits and have checked off all your boxes. Before you tackle some of these tasks, you'll want to make sure you gather some documentation, such as:
- The Department of Veterans Affairs Claim Number, if there is one (you should speak with your funeral director about applying for VA benefits if you haven't already, as they can assist you)
- Social Security number of the decedent
- Any insurance policies
- A certified copy of the veteran’s service record, discharge, separation notice, or DD-214
- Certified copies of the marriage license and birth certificates of any children
- Certified copy of the death certificate
Gathering this documentation ahead of time will make the process much smoother for you and ensure you're able to access all the benefits you're eligible for. You'll need this information in order to fill out many of the required forms, such as the VA death benefits form.
After you've gathered the required documentation, here are some things you should do as a veteran’s spouse:
- For information on how to stop VA benefits after a death (and to notify the VA of the death), call 1-800-827-1000.
- Apply for VA Burial Benefits, which you can do here. (While there is not a VA death benefits phone number, you are able to find a representative who will help you in person.)
- Notify Social Security of the death to receive the $255 one-time death benefit, which you can do by calling 1-800-772-1213.
- Apply for the VA Survivors Pension, if you qualify, which you can do here.
- Start a memorial fundraiser. Memorial fundraiser will help you to cover the cost of the funeral while you wait for the VA to reimburse a portion of the funds spent on funeral expenses.
You can also learn more about VA benefits by reading through the VA Burial Benefits Fact Sheet.
Regardless of whether you’re able to receive VA benefits, it’s still worth starting a memorial website. Memorial websites let you raise funds (which is extremely helpful if you’re struggling to front the costs of the funeral), share important event information, collect memories and photos, and a lot more.
