How to Apply for Veterans Death Benefits
When a loved one passes away, there are many things you’ll need to take care of. If the person who passed away was a veteran, there are a few more steps you should take in order to access veterans death benefits. Keep reading for more information on what to do when a veteran dies, how you can apply for veteran death benefits, and what to expect when it comes to death benefits for veterans.
How do I report a death to the veterans administration?
When a veteran passes away, one of the first things you’ll want to do is report the death to the Veterans Administration. Notifying the VA of a death will stop incoming benefits to the veteran's accounts and will let them update their files. This is also part of the process of receiving veterans burial benefits, so you'll want to do this first. You can notify the VA of a death by phone by calling 1-800-827-1000.
If a veteran dies, who pays for the funeral?
While the military provides veterans death benefits, these benefits are applied retroactively and not at the time of passing. When a veteran dies, a family member will most likely need to pay for the funeral upfront and be reimbursed by veterans death benefits down the line.
Does the military pay for funerals for veterans?
The military does provide VA death benefits to the family of the deceased veteran. These veteran burial benefits are most often used to cover the cost of burial or other related funeral expenses. When a veteran passes away, the VA will provide military veterans death benefits in different amounts, depending on the circumstances.
How much does the VA provide in terms of a VA burial allowance or VA burial benefits?
The VA will pay up to $2000 toward burial and funeral expenses for any veteran who was honorably discharged and died of a service-related injury or illness. The VA will also pay up to $796 as a plot-interment allowance for veterans who died in a non-service related way. In addition to the $796, the VA will pay $300 toward funeral and burial expenses if the veteran was not hospitalized by the VA at the time of passing.
Does the VA pay for cremation?
The VA does not provide VA cremation benefits explicitly. There are families that use the burial benefits for veterans and apply the funds towards cremation since it's considered a funeral expense. There does not appear to be any restriction against doing this, but you should check with the VA first before proceeding.
Are there additional veterans death benefits for a spouse?
If you are a spouse of the veteran who passed away, you may be eligible for other benefits separate from the veteran funeral benefits discussed already. Children of a certain age are also eligible to apply for what's known as the Survivors Pension. The Survivors Pension provides additional benefits to qualified recipients for certain veterans, depending on when they served. (For example, if you're looking for World War 2 veterans death benefits, the Survivors Pension may be something you're eligible for.)
To apply for the Survivor's Pension, you'll need to meet the following eligibility requirements:
- You haven’t remarried after the Veteran’s passing
- Your yearly household income and net worth meet the state limits set forth by Congress (meaning, you earn less than this amount), 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 23 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.
What to do when a veteran dies
One of the first steps to take before contacting any department or agency is to collect important documentation. Here's some documentation you'll likely be asked for along the way:
- The Department of Veterans Affairs Claim Number, if there is one (you should speak to your funeral director regarding applying for VA benefits if you haven't already, they should be able to help 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
If you gather this documentation ahead of time, it'll likely make the process a lot smoother and ensure you're able to access benefits that you're eligible for.
After you've gathered the required documentation, here are some things you should do:
- Notify the VA of the death by calling 1-800-827-1000. Read through this VA Burial Benefits Fact Sheet.
- Apply for VA Burial Benefits, which you can do here. (While there is not a dedicated VA death benefits phone number, you can find a representative who will help you fill out a veterans burial benefits form 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. Setting up a memorial fundraiser will help you to cover the cost of the funeral upfront.
Regardless of your circumstances and benefits eligibility, it’s still worth starting a memorial website. Memorial websites help you raise funds, collect memories and photos, share important event information, and much more. These can be incredibly useful for those who may not qualify for Veterans Benefits or who might not expect the large pricetag that comes along with most funerals. While Veterans Benefits will help cover some costs, they don't cover all the costs many families face after losing a loved one.
