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Surviving Spouse including common law 2. Children by age 3. Parents — biological, adoptive, step, foster 4. Other lineal descendants Any individual authorized in writing by the NOK, or a personal representative authorized in writing by the decedent may also apply for a headstone, marker or medallion. If someone other than the NOK is applying for the headstone, marker or medallion, the application package must include a written statement signed by the NOK or decedent authorizing that person the applicant to apply for this benefit.
A notarized statement is not required for these purposes. NCA will also accept applications from funeral home directors, cemetery officials, and Department of Defense appointed Casualty Assistance Officers, since they generally are authorized to represent the decedent or the NOK. When burial is in a private cemetery, VA Form , Application for Standard Government Headstone or Marker must be submitted by the next of kin or a representative, such as funeral director, cemetery official or Veterans counselor, along with Veterans military discharge documents, to request a Government-provided headstone or marker.
Do not send original documents, as they will not be returned. Ordering a Headstone or Marker in a National, Post, or State Veterans Cemetery When burial or memorialization is in a national, post, or state Veterans' cemetery, a headstone or marker will be ordered by the cemetery officials based on inscription information provided by the next of kin.
Requesting a grave marker When burial is in a private cemetery, VA Form - Application for Standard Government Headstone or Marker for Installation in a Private Cemetery or a State Veterans' Cemetery, must be submitted by the next of kin, funeral director or cemetery representative, along with a copy of the veteran's military discharge documents. Your funeral director will assist you or if you have questions about grave markers, family members can send the completed request for a Government-provided headstone or marker and the necessary supporting documents to: For the status of headstones and markers please call Veterans Affairs at Setting Government Headstones and Markers Cemetery staff in national, military post, and military base cemeteries are responsible for setting the headstone or marker at no cost to the applicant.
Some state Veterans' cemeteries may charge the applicant a nominal fee for setting a Government-furnished headstone or marker. Arrangements for setting a Government-furnished headstone or marker in a private cemetery are the applicant's responsibility and all placement costs are at private expense. Memorial Headstones and Markers Memorial headstones and markers, for individuals or groups, are furnished for eligible deceased active duty service members and Veterans whose remains are not recovered or identified, are buried at sea, donated to science or whose cremated remains have been scattered.
These headstones and markers bear an "In Memory of" inscription, as their first line and must be placed in a recognized cemetery. Memorial headstones and markers for spouses and other dependents are not available for placement in private cemeteries. Link will take you outside the Department of Veterans Affairs web site. VA will furnish a burial flag for memorialization for each other than dishonorable discharged: Generally, the flag is given to the next-of-kin, as a keepsake, after its use during the funeral service. When there is no next-of-kin, VA will furnish the flag to a friend making request for it.
For those VA national cemeteries with an Avenue of Flags, families of Veterans buried in these national cemeteries may donate the burial flags of their loved ones to be flown on patriotic holidays. How Can You Apply? You may get a flag at any VA regional office or U. Generally, the funeral director will help you obtain the flag. The VA does not make funeral arrangements or perform cremations.
Families should make these arrangements with a funeral provider or cremation office. Burial benefits available include a gravesite in any of our national cemeteries with available space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, at no cost to the family. Some Veterans may also be eligible for Burial Allowances. Cremated remains are buried or inurned in national cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains. Burial benefits available for spouses and dependents buried in a national cemetery include burial with the Veteran, perpetual care, and the spouse or dependents name and date of birth and death will be inscribed on the Veteran's headstone, at no cost to the family.
Eligible spouses and dependents may be buried, even if they predecease the Veteran. These papers are very important in establishing your eligibility. You may wish to make preneed arrangements with a funeral home. At the time of need your family would contact a funeral home who will assist them with making burial arrangements at the national cemetery.
To schedule a burial: Fax all discharge documentation to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at and follow-up with a phone call to Persons Eligible for Burial in a National Cemetery http: A determination of eligibility is usually made in response to a request for burial in a VA national cemetery. To schedule a burial fax all discharge documentation to and follow-up with a phone call to With certain exceptions, service beginning after September 7, , as an enlisted person, and service after October 16, , as an officer, must be for a minimum of 24 continuous months or the full period for which the person was called to active duty as in the case of a Reservist called to active duty for a limited duration.
Undesirable, bad conduct, and any other type of discharge other than honorable may or may not qualify the individual for Veterans benefits, depending upon a determination made by a VA Regional Office.
Cases presenting multiple discharges of varying character are also referred for adjudication to a VA Regional Office. Specific categories of individuals eligible for retired pay are delineated in section of Chapter , title 10, United States Code. Spouses and Dependents 1 The spouse or surviving spouse of an eligible Veteran is eligible for interment in a national cemetery even if that Veteran is not buried or memorialized in a national cemetery. In addition, the spouse or surviving spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States whose remains are unavailable for burial is also eligible for burial.
For purpose of burial in a national cemetery, a minor child is a child who is unmarried and: For purpose of burial in a national cemetery, an unmarried adult child is: Of any age but became permanently physically or mentally disabled and incapable of self-support before reaching 21 years of age, or before reaching 23 years of age if pursuing a full-time course of instruction at an approved educational institution. Proper supporting documentation must be provided. Parents 1 Biological or adoptive parents, who died after October 13, , and whose biological or adoptive child was a servicemember: Former Spouses A former spouse of an eligible individual whose marriage to that individual has been terminated by annulment or divorce, if not otherwise eligible.
Disqualifying Characters of Discharge A person whose only separation from the Armed Forces was under dishonorable conditions or whose character of service results in a bar to Veterans benefits. Discharge from Draft A person who was ordered to report to an induction station, but was not actually inducted into military service.
Federal officials may not inter in Veterans cemeteries persons who are shown by clear and convincing evidence to have committed a Federal or State capital crime but were unavailable for trial due to death or flight to avoid prosecution. Federally funded State veterans cemeteries must also adhere to this law. This prohibition is also extended to furnishing a Presidential Memorial Certificate, a burial flag, and a headstone or marker.
Subversive Activities Any person convicted of subversive activities after September 1, , shall have no right to burial in a national cemetery from and after the date of commission of such offense, based on periods of active military service commencing before the date of the commission of such offense, nor shall another person be entitled to burial on account of such an individual.
Eligibility will be reinstated if the President of the United States grants a pardon. Active or Inactive Duty for Training A person whose only service is active duty for training or inactive duty training in the National Guard or Reserve Component, unless the individual meets the eligibility criteria listed in Section III. Other Groups Members of groups whose service has been determined by the Secretary of the Air Force under the provisions of Public Law as not warranting entitlement to benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
View this document in its entirety. The Avenues consist of burial flags donated by the families of deceased Veterans and provide a unique visible tribute to all of our Nation's Veterans. A Certificate of Appreciation is presented to the donor for providing their loved ones' burial flag to a national cemetery. Please contact the cemetery of your choice for information on how to donate a veteran's burial flag. MSD teams are volunteers. They compliment the services provided by the Department of Defense. They ensure that all veterans are provided the rifle salute and taps.
All military funeral honors performed by the MSD are provided at no cost to the family. Contact the cemetery office for scheduling information for the MSD.
However, in accordance with the Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations Part , section 15, the following individuals are eligible for interment ground burial at Arlington National Cemetery: Any active duty member of the Armed Forces except those members serving on active duty for training only. Any retired member of the Armed Forces. A retired member of the Armed Forces, in the context of this paragraph, is a retired member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or a Reserve component who has served on active duty other than for training , is carried on an official retired list, and is entitled to receive retired pay stemming from service in the Armed Forces.
If, at the time of death, a retired member of the Armed Forces is not entitled to receive retired pay stemming from his service in the Armed Forces until some future date, the retired member will not be eligible for ground burial. Any former member of the Armed Forces separated for physical disability prior to 1 October who has served on active duty other than for training and who would have been eligible for retirement under the provisions of 10 United States Code U.
Any former member of the Armed Forces whose last active duty other than for training military service terminated honorably and who has been awarded one of the following decorations: Medal of Honor 2. Distinguished Service Medal 4. Persons who have held any of the following positions provided their last period of active duty other than for training as a member of the Armed Forces terminated honorably: An elective office of the United States Government 2. An office listed in 5 U. Any former prisoner of war who, while a prisoner of war, served honorably in the active military, naval, or air service, whose last period of active military, naval, or air service terminated honorably and who died on or after November 30, By an enemy government or its agents, or a hostile force, during a period of war; or ii.
By a foreign government or its agents, or a hostile force, under circumstances which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs finds to have been comparable to the circumstances under which persons have generally been forcibly detained or interned by enemy governments during periods of war. The term "active military, naval, or air service" includes active duty, any period of active duty for training during which the individual concerned was disabled or died from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty, and any period of inactive duty training during which the individual concerned was disabled or died from an injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty.
The spouse, widow or widower, minor child and, at the discretion of the Secretary of the Army, unmarried adult child of any of the persons listed above. A surviving spouse who has remarried and whose remarriage is void, terminated by death, or dissolved by annulment or divorce by a court with basic authority to render such decrees regains eligibility for burial in Arlington National Cemetery unless it is determined that the decree of annulment or divorce was secured through fraud or collusion.
An unmarried adult child may be interred in the same gravesite in which the parent has been or will be interred, provided that child was incapable of selfsupport up to the time of death because of physical or mental condition. At the time of death of an adult child, a request for interment will be submitted to the Executive Director, Army National Cemeteries Program, Arlington National Cemetery.
The request must be accompanied by a notarized statement from an individual who has direct knowledge as to the marital status, degree of dependency of the deceased child, the name of that child's parent, and the military service upon which the burial is being requested. The surviving spouse, minor child, and, at the discretion of the Secretary of the Army, unmarried adult child of any person already buried in Arlington.
The parents of a minor child or unmarried adult child whose remains, based on the eligibility of a parent, are already buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Scheduling a Funeral Service Upon the death of the veteran or veteran's spouse, the surviving spouse or personal representative should contact a local funeral home to arrange for any desired services in the hometown.
An individual case number will be assigned and a cemetery representative will call the point of contact to establish eligibility. Before scheduling the service, the cemetery staff will need to determine the eligibility of the deceased in accordance with Arlington National Cemetery interment eligibility criteria. Upon verification of eligibility, the cemetery staff will reserve the necessary ceremonial resources and schedule the interment. The cemetery staff needs documentation to show an unbroken chain of custody for the remains of the deceased. VA burial allowances are partial reimbursements of an eligible Veteran's burial and funeral costs.
When the cause of death is not service related, the reimbursements are generally described as two payments: You may be eligible for a VA burial allowance if: In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met: If the Veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost of transporting the deceased may be reimbursed.
An annual increase in burial and plot allowances, for deaths occurring after October 1, , begins in fiscal year based on the Consumer Price Index for the preceding month period. They should show that you have paid them in full. You may download the form at http: Some individuals are authorized a casket at Army expense.
See Table in chapter 2 of Army Regulation - Care and Disposition of Remains and Disposition of Personal Effects for detailed information regarding who is eligible and under what circumstances. Burial Benefits for Women and Minority Veterans: Female veterans married to a veteran are entitled to their own separate grave, headstone or marker, burial flag and Presidential Memorial Certificate.
However, they may choose to be buried in the same gravesite as their spouse. For all others, click here. The Soldier can designate up to ten individuals, without regard to relationship, and allocate amounts in ten-percent increments to each designated individual listed on the Soldier's DD Form Its purpose is to help the survivors in their readjustment and to aid them in meeting immediate expenses incurred. This amount is excludable from gross income for tax purposes. This change is retroactive to October 7, If the Soldier did not designate any beneficiaries for the Death Gratuity on the DD Form 93, then the death gratuity amount is made payable to survivors of the deceased in this order: If there is no spouse, to the child or children of the member, regardless of age or marital status, in equal shares.
Father or mother through adoption, in equal shares. Any person who stood "in loco parentis" for not less than one year at any time before the deceased member's entry into active service. Brothers and sisters of half blood and those through adoption.
Surviving parents, in equal shares. Surviving brothers and sisters, in equal shares If a designated beneficiary dies before receiving the amount to which entitled, such amount is then paid to the living survivor s first listed above. Death cannot be the result of willful misconduct. The surviving spouse if he or she: A surviving spouse who remarries on or after December 16, , and on or after attaining age 57, is entitled to continue to receive DIC. Remarriage of a surviving spouse does not bar the payment of DIC to the surviving spouse if: On or after 1 January , remarriage of a surviving spouse terminated prior to 1 November , or terminated by legal proceedings started prior to 1 November , by the surviving spouse.
The marriage had to be terminated by death, or dissolved by a court with basic authority to render divorce decrees. On or after 1 January , the fact that a surviving spouse had lived with another person and had held themselves out openly to the public as the spouse of such other person, if the relationship terminated prior to 1 November On or after 1 January , the fact that DIC to a surviving spouse may previously have been barred because his or her conduct or a relationship into which he or she had entered had raised an inference or presumption that he or she had remarried or had been determined to be open and notorious adulterous cohabitation, or similar conduct, if the relationship terminated prior to 1 November Certain helpless adult children are entitled to DIC.
Call the toll-free number below for the eligibility requirements. The surviving parent s may be eligible for an income-based benefit also. The rate is increased for each dependent child, and also if the surviving spouse is housebound or in need of aid and attendance. The amount is based on a family unit, not individual children.
The amount of the DIC payment for parents vary according to the number of parents, the amount of their individual or combined total annual income, and whether they live together or if remarried, living with a spouse. The surviving spouse and parents who receive DIC may be granted a special allowance for aid and attendance if a patient is in a nursing home, disabled, or blind and needs or requires the regular aid and attendance of another person.
If they are not so disabled as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person but who, due to disability, are permanently housebound, they may be granted additional special allowances. DIC payments to a surviving spouse are payable for life, as long as the spouse does not remarry. Should the surviving spouse remarry, payments are terminated for life unless the marriage is later terminated by death or divorce.
Benefit rate tables, including those for children alone and parents, can be found on the Internet at http: How Should a Claimant Apply? Denial of Claim for DIC. The appeal must be filed within one year from the date of the notification of a VA decision to file an appeal. The first step in the appeal process is for you to file a written notice of disagreement with the VA regional office that made the decision. This is a written statement that you disagree with the VA's decision. Following receipt of the written notice, the VA will furnish you a "Statement of the Case" describing what facts, laws and regulations were used in deciding the case.
To complete the request for appeal, you must file a "Substantive Appeal" within 60 days of the mailing of the Statement of Case, or within one year from the date the VA mailed the its decision, whichever period ends later. Death Pension is a needs based benefit paid to an unremarried surviving spouse, or an unmarried child of a deceased wartime veteran.
Eligibility One may be eligible if: If he or she entered active duty after September 7, , generally he or she must have served at least 24 months or the full period for which called or ordered to active duty. There are exceptions to this rule. If you do not initially qualify, you may reapply if you have un-reimbursed medical expenses during the twelve month period after VA receives your claim that bring your countable income below the yearly income limit.
These are expense you have paid for medical services or products for which you will not be reimbursed by Medicare or private medical insurance. Are there age requirements, or restrictions? A child must be: What is "countable income" for pension eligibility? This includes income received from most sources by the surviving spouse and any eligible children. It includes earnings, disability and retirement payments, interest and dividends, and net income from farming or business.
There is a presumption that all of a child's income is available to or for the surviving spouse. VA may grant an exception in hardship cases. Certain expenses like medical expenses may be excluded from your annual income to lower the total countable income. What about net worth? Net worth means the net value of the assets of the surviving spouse and his or her children.
It includes such assets as bank accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds and any property other than the surviving spouse's residence and a reasonable lot area. There is no set limit on how much net worth a surviving spouse and his or her children can have, but net worth cannot be excessive.
The decision as to whether a claimant's net worth is excessive depends on the facts of each individual case. All net worth should be reported and VA will determine if a claimant's assets are sufficiently large that the claimant could live off these assets for a reasonable period of time. VA's needs-based programs are not intended to protect substantial assets or build up an estate for the benefit of heirs.
Are there any exclusions to income or deductions that may be made to reduce countable income? Yes, there are exclusions. The following are examples of the types of exclusions or deductibles to countable income: Public assistance such as Supplemental Security Income is not considered income. Many other specific sources of income are not considered income, however all income should be reported. VA will exclude any income that the law allows. A portion of un-reimbursed medical expenses paid by the claimant after VA receives your pension claim may be deducted.
Certain other expenses, such as a surviving spouse's education expenses, and in some cases, a portion of the educational expenses of a child over 18 are deductible. What are Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits? How Do I Apply? Housebound is paid to a claimant when: The survivor may not receive Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound benefits at the same time.
How to Apply for Aid and Attendance and Housebound: If the regional office of jurisdiction is not known, you may file the request with any VA regional office. You should include copies of any evidence, preferably a report from an attending physician validating the need for Aid and Attendance or Housebound type care.
The report should be in sufficient detail to determine whether there is disease or injury producing physical or mental impairment, loss of coordination, or conditions affecting the ability to dress and undress, to feed oneself, to attend to sanitary needs, and to keep oneself ordinarily clean and presentable.
In addition, it is necessary to determine whether the claimant is confined to the home or immediate premises. Whether the claim is for Aid and Attendance or Housebound, the report should indicate how well the individual gets around, where the individual goes, and what he or she is able to do during a typical day. How much does VA pay for Death Pension?
VA pays you the difference between your countable income and an annual rate of payment established by Congress. VA provides an on-line table at http: This difference is generally paid in 12 equal monthly payments rounded down to the nearest dollar.
Monthly payments are also paid to children until age 18 or 19 if a full-time student at a primary or secondary school, or age 18 or older and disabled before age One member of the detail shall be a representative of the parent Service of the deceased veteran. Yet urban planners and developers focus overwhelmingly on accommodating and making money from the living. Postal Service or a commercial mail service, such as one of the overnight or express mail delivery services, to: The Army does not have the authority to issue the chests retroactively.
Click here to see an example of how VA arrives at your death pension amount. How do I apply for Death Pension benefits? Make sure you download parts 1 and 2 of the application as well as the instructions for filling out the forms. You must send the completed application and any copies of other documents to the VA regional office that serves your area of residence.
Please click here to find the office of jurisdiction. The deceased must either have been entitled to educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill program or a participant in the program who would have been so entitled but for the high school diploma or length of service requirement. The amount paid will be equal to the deceased member's actual military pay reduction less any educational benefits paid. If you are eligible to receive the death benefit, submit a letter, along with proof of relationship and a copy of the DD Form , Report of Casualty, to the appropriate VA Regional Office listed below.
The death benefit is made in "by-law" fashion to the spouse, children, and parents, and will not be paid to anyone else in the "by-law" chain. To receive the refund, submit a letter, along with proof of relationship and a copy of the death certificate, or DD Form , Report of Casualty, for retiree deaths occurring within days after retiring, to the appropriate VA Regional Office listed below. The refund is made in "by-law" fashion to the spouse, children, and parents, and will not be paid to anyone else in the "by-law" chain. Insurance Navigation Page https: Listed below are the six life insurance programs managed by VA.
The first four programs listed are closed to new issues. The last two are still issuing new policies. Click on any program title for a brief background description. Active Duty A monthly annuity paid by the Army to the surviving spouse or, in some cases, eligible children, of a Reserve Component member who dies and has completed the satisfactory years of service that qualified the member for retired pay at age The member must have made an election within 90 days of notification of eligibility to participate in the program.
Coverage is not automatic unless the member dies before the 90 day period established by law. The initial annuity paid to a surviving spouse is equal to 55 percent of the retired pay to which the member would have been entitled at age 60, reduced by the Reserve Portion Cost. Retiree A monthly annuity paid to the surviving spouse or, in some cases, eligible children, of a Reserve Component member who dies and has completed the satisfactory years of service that qualified the member for retired pay at age The program allows Reserve Component personnel eligible for retired pay at age 60 to participate upon completion of the satisfactory years of service.
The member eligible for retired pay at age 60 designates the beneficiaries. The beneficiary choices are the same as for SBP. Participation in the program is voluntary. The three options available to the member at time of election are: If death occurs prior to age 60, no annuity is payable. Option B - Provides for coverage for an annuity to begin on the 60th anniversary of member's birth, if death occurs before age 60, or to begin immediately when death occurs after age Option C - Provides for coverage for an annuity to begin immediately, whether death occurs before or after age There is no conflict of interest which would prohibit simultaneous coverage.
Active Duty Section of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year expanded Section d , Title 10, United States Code USC , to provide a Survivor Benefit Plan SBP annuity for the surviving dependent children of a member who dies while on active duty but is not yet eligible for retirement, instead of the surviving spouse provided the Secretary concerned, in consultation with the surviving spouse, determines such an annuity is appropriate.
Former Spouse if court ordered.
Child only when there is no surviving spouse, or if the spouse requests the Service Secretary to make a Child only election. Insurable Interest when there is no qualified survivor under Section d, Title 10, United States Code, the Service Secretary can deem an election for a survivor who meets the dependent eligibility criteria of Section 2 , Title 10, United States Code. Retiree A monthly annuity paid by the Army. This program allowed personnel who retired on or after September 21, , or before if they enrolled in the program during an open season, to receive reduced retired pay in order to provide a monthly annuity to their beneficiaries after the death of the retiree.
The retiree designated the beneficiaries. Participation in this program was voluntary. SBP provides an eligible surviving spouse or former spouse financial security similar to the financial security a retiree had in retired pay--a cost-ofliving-adjusted monthly income for life. Active Duty Should the surviving spouse remarry before age 55, the annuity is paid in equal shares to eligible children under age 18, or under age 22 if a full-time student, unless handicapped.
The coverage stops when there are no eligible children. A dependent child may be an adopted child, stepchild, grandchild, foster child, or recognized natural child who lived with the member in a regular parent-child relationship. With space running out, the business of death has become highly lucrative as the cost of dying rises all over the world. Alternatively, there is an average five-year wait for a small spot in a public columbarium, where thousands of urns of cremated ashes are stored.
But without long-term public solutions to the burial land crisis, local authorities may end up outsourcing the problem. In , Jessica Mitford published The American Way of Death, a scathing criticism of the funeral industry, which she accused of pushing up the cost of dying. But cremation creates as many problems as it solves. In both countries, urns still tend to be buried in cemeteries, and although many permit families to bury more than one urn in a single grave site, these still take up significant space — indefinitely.
Cremation also poses increased environmental problems: Where else would you get that in an urban landscape? They add an emotional intelligence to a city. Location and long tenure could become the privilege of a wealthy urban elite, while those unable to meet the rates find their mortal remains separated from those of their families, or relocated to less desirable locations — for as long as someone can pay the rent.
In Japan, large companies such as Panasonic already purchase corporate areas within graveyards for some of their employees. In Kuala Lumpur and several Asian cities, where cremation is a strict cultural norm, the lack of space and the need for a site where families can pay respects to their deceased has led to the invention of giant, mechanised columbaria, where thousands of urns are stored in a vault and can be retrieved with an electronic card. One private company, Nirvana, boasts 12 such sites across Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, and has plans for more — yet still it is oversubscribed.
New alternatives are urgently needed. In the UK, the common graves of the 19th century, for example, are very, very deep. With the boundary between our virtual and physical lives becoming ever-more blurred, technology is sure to play a greater role in death, too. In Japan, the company I-Can Corp offers descendants online visits to virtual graveyards, where they can pour virtual water or light a virtual incense stick, instead of travelling the long distance to visit a grave in person. Troyer, however, offers a word of caution about this shift towards virtual graves. The lowly gravestone has been a very successful human technology, and I suspect it will last … I would go with granite.
And it may be a similar story when they die, too.