Every November on Veterans Day we honor the veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Some of these brave individuals spend their entire careers serving in the military. And sadly, some die in the line of duty.
Regardless of the circumstances, many veterans are entitled to burial benefits to help cover funeral costs. But the thing is, veterans don’t automatically receive the burial allowance benefits. The family must apply for them, and that’s what you’re here to find out about.
Keep reading for a quick overview on how to apply for VA burial benefits.
Check Eligibility First
Before taking the time to submit an application, make sure it won’t get rejected. Not every veteran is eligible for burial benefits, and some family members of veterans actually are eligible for the benefits as well. The VA has a detailed list of who can receive the Veterans Burial Allowance to use as a reference.
Get the Paperwork Prepared
Applying for Veterans Burial Allowance benefits is going to require some documentation to verify the veteran’s death and their military service. There are two key documents that need to be provided.
The first is the veteran’s death certificate showing the cause of death. The cause of death is important because it can determine what benefits are received.
You’ll also need to submit the veteran’s DD214. You may have heard the DD214 referred to as the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. The DD14 is important for the VA burial benefits because it notes if a veteran was honorably discharged. Only veterans that were honorably discharged are eligible for benefits.
Don’t have the veteran’s DD214? Not a problem. You can request that the National Archives send you a copy. Just keep in mind it typically takes 3-4 weeks to receive a DD214 from the National Archives.
If the death was service-related you’ll also need to submit medical records and any other supporting documents. Transportation costs will also be reimbursed if you paid to transport their remains and can show proof of paying for the service.
Be Prepared to Provide Personal Information
In addition to the documents, you’ll need to provide personal information for the veteran and the individual paying for their funeral services.
The information you’ll need to provide about the veteran includes:
- Veteran’s Social Security number (VA file number also acceptable)
- Veteran’s birth date and place of birth
- Date of the veteran’s death
- Place of death for the veteran
- Date of the cremation or burial
- Final resting place (including a columbarium niche)
The information you’ll need to provide about the individual paying for the services includes:
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
- Contact information
- Mailing address
Submit the Application
Getting everything together is the hardest part. Applying for VA burial benefits online is a quick 30-minute or less process. There are six steps to filling out the VA Form 21P-530EZ online using the information noted above. If anything is missing or more information is needed the VA will contact you directly.
Once the application is processed the VA will send a letter letting you know if the benefits were approved.
If the VA burial benefits don’t cover all of the funeral expenses or a veteran preferred to be cremated, more assistance may be available. There are other benefits that cover cremation costs. You can also use a direct cremation service like Direct Cremate to make funeral services more affordable.
