Veterans' Benefits
Benefits
| Military Honors |
Burial at Sea |
Cemeteries |
Resources/Contacts
To be eligible you must be a veteran discharged or
separated from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable
who has completed the required period of service, and U.S. Armed
Forces members who die on active duty. Spouses and dependent
children of eligible living and deceased veterans, and of current
and deceased armed forces members, may also be eligible.
Note: The surviving spouse of an eligible veteran
who remarried a non-veteran prior to October 31, 1990, and whose
remarriage was terminated by death or divorce prior to or on that
date is eligible for burial in a national cemetery. A surviving
spouse of an eligible veteran who remarried a non-veteran prior to
October 31, 1990, and whose remarriage was intact on or after that
date, however, is not eligible for burial in a national cemetery. A
surviving spouse who remarries a non-veteran after October 31, 1990,
is not eligible for burial in a national cemetery.
Free Burial Grave in a National Cemetery
The United States Government provides free burial
in a National Cemetery to all those eligible. This includes the
gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, and perpetual care.
Many national cemeteries have columbaria niches for the inurnment of
cremated remains or special sections for burial of cremated remains.
Listing of National
Cemeteries
Free Headstones and Markers
The United States Government provides headstones
and markers for the graves of veterans and eligible dependents
anywhere in the world which are not already marked. Flat bronze,
flat granite, flat marble and upright marble types are available to
mark the grave of a veteran or dependent in the style consistent
with exiting monuments at the place of burial. Bronze niche markers
are also available to mark columbaria in national cemeteries used
for inurnment of cremated remains.
Free Burial at Sea
Burial at sea is not just a tradition that was
practiced by the Navy of old. It is a means of final disposition of
cremations and intact remains that is offered to and still utilized
by active duty, retired, and honorable veterans of all branches of
the United States military. Burial at sea services are performed
while the vessel is on official maneuvers. Therefore, it is
impossible for the family to be present. The family will be notified
by the commanding officer of that vessel of the date time,
longitude, and latitude of the committal service.
Eligibility
Deceased individuals eligible for this program are
members of the uniformed services, veterans discharged under
honorable conditions, United States civilian marine personnel of the
Military Sealift Command, and dependents of members, retirees, and
veterans of the uniformed services.
Ports of Embarkation
East Coast Ports
Norfolk, Virginia
Naval Medical Center
620 John Paul Jones Circle
Portsmouth, Virginia 23708-5100
(804) 398-5573 |
Newport, Rhode Island
Naval Hospital
Newport, Rhode Island 02841-5003
(401) 841-4128 |
Jacksonville, Florida
Naval Hospital Branch Clinic
Naval Station
Mayport, Florida 32228
(904) 270-5303 |
West Coast Ports
San Diego, California
Naval Hospital
San Diego, California 92134-5000
(619) 532-8323 |
Long Beach, California
Naval Hospital
Long Beach, California 90822-5199
(310) 420-5263 |
San Francisco, California
Naval Hospital
Oakland, California 94627-5000
(510) 633-5692 |
Bremerton, Washington
Naval Hospital
Bremerton, Washington 98312-5008
(206) 478-9388 |
Free Presidential Memorial Certificate
The Presidential Memorial Certificate is a
parchment with a calligraphic inscription expressing the nation's
grateful recognition of the veteran's service. The veteran's name is
inscribed, and the certificate bears the signature of the President
and the presidential seal in gold foil.
Reimbursement of Burial Expenses
The United States Government provides a $300
burial and funeral expense allowance for veterans who, at the time
of death, were entitled to receive pension or compensation or would
have been entitled to compensation but for receipt of military
retirement pay. Eligibility is also established when death occurs in
a Veterans Administration facility or a nursing home which the
Veterans Administration contracted, and additional costs of
transportation of the remains may be reimbursed in those cases.
Claims must be filed within two years after permanent burial or
cremation.
Free United States Burial Flag
The United States Government provides an American
flag to drape the casket of a veteran who was discharged under
conditions other than dishonorable. After the funeral service, the
flag may be given to the next of kin or a close associate of the
deceased.
How to Contact the Veterans Administration
National Toll-Free Service
800-827-1000
Military veterans and their dependents are
entitled to a variety of benefits depending on their circumstances.
Contact the Veterans Affairs office to determine what benefits can
he claimed and then gather the information required.
Before you can file you will need:
- Certified copy of or original DD214 (Enlisted Record of
Separation).
- Certified copy of or original marriage certificate.
- Certified copy of Death Certificate.
- Verification of amount of life insurance you will receive as a
result of veteran's death.
- Paid receipts for funeral and cemetery expense.
- Paid receipts for hospital and doctor bills incurred by last
illness, if applicable.
- Social Security number for yourself and your dependent
children.
If the veteran or yourself was previously married:
- A certified copy of or original divorce decree, or a Death
Certificate proving the previous marriage was dissolved by divorce
or death.
If there are dependent children:
- For children under the age of 18, or over 18 and still in
school, you need certified copies of original birth certificates
for each.
- If over 18 and still in school, you will need VA Form 21-674
filled out.
If either of you currently receive
Social Security benefits:
- You will need to know the exact amount received for each of
you.
If you already have a VA claim number:
- You must furnish the VA with the claim number you have been
assigned.
If either of you receive additional income:
- The source and exact amount of the benefit must be reported to
the VA.
