Klicker Chapter 20- Veterans Benefits and Social Security

Question 1

• Veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
• The veteran died because of a service-related disability OR
• The veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death OR
• The veteran was entitled to receive VA pension or compensaton, but decided not to reduce his/her military retirement or disability pay OR
• The veteran died in a VA hospital, in a nursing home under VA contract, or while in an approved state nursing home.

Answer 1

Who is Eligible?

Question 2

• Service related deaths: VA will pay an allowance toward burial expenses for service-related deaths. If the veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost of transporting the deceased may be reimbursed.
• Nonservice-related deaths: VA will pay an allowance toward burial, funeral, and plot-interment costs. If death happened while the veteran was in a VA hospital or under VA contracted nursing home care, some or all of the costs for transporting the deceased’s remains may be reimbursed.

Answer 2

How Much Does the VA Pay?

Question 3

• Filing VA form 21-530, application for burial benefits
• Attach proof of veteran’s military service (DD214), a death certificate, and copies of funeral and burial bills you have paid.

Answer 3

How to Apply

Question 4

Provided at no cost to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran who served honorably.

• Veteran who served during wartime
• Veteran who died on active duty after May 27, 1941
• Veteran who served after January 31, 1995
• Peacetime veteran who was discharged or released before June 27, 1950
• Person who served in the organized military forces of the Commonwealth of the Phillippines while in service of the US Armed Forces and who died on or after April 25, 1951.
• Former member of the Selected Reserves

Answer 4

Burial Flag

Question 5

• Generally, the next-of-kin for a keepsake, after its use in the funeral service.
• VA will furnish it to a friend making a request for it.
• VA cemeteries with an Avenue of Flags- families of veterans may donate them to be flown on patriotic holidays.

Answer 5

Who get the flag?

Question 6

VA Form 21-2008- Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes.

• get it at any VA regional office or US post office

Answer 6

How do you get a flag?

Question 7

An engraved paper certificate, signed by the current President, to honor the memory of honorably discharged deceased veterans.

• Next of kin or someone acting in their behalf gets this by completing VA Form 40-0247 in person at any VA regional office or by US mail or toll-free fax. Cannot be sent by e-mail.
• Enclose copy of discharge and death certificate to verify eligability
• Submit copies, will not return documents.

Answer 7

Presidential Memorial Certificates (PMC)

Question 8

The Department of Defense (DOD) is responsibile for providing these.

• Program is titled “Honoring Those Who Served”

Answer 8

Military Funeral Honors

Question 9

Requires that every eligible veteran receive a military honors ceremony.

• folding and presenting US burial flag and playing of taps.
• Arranged prior to the committal service by the funeral home

Answer 9

Public Law 106-65

Question 10

Consists of two or more uniformed military persons, with at least one being a member of the veteran’s parent service of the armed forces.

Answer 10

Public Law 106-65 Definition of Military Honors

Question 11

• Funeral home on behalf of the veteran’s family
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration cemetery staff can also assist with arranging military honors at VA national cemeteries.
• Veterans’ organizations may assist in providing military honors

Answer 11

Who Requests Military Honors?

Question 12

Available at no cost to the family for:

• Eligible veterans
• Veterans spouses
• Veterans dependents

Answer 12

VA National Cemeteries

Question 13

122 National Cemeteries

• 83 are open for new interments
• 21 of these accept only cremated remains
• Burial options are limited to those available at a specific cemetery but may include:
  
  • in ground casket
  • Interment of cremated remains in a columbarium, in ground, or scatter garden
• Contact nearest national cemetery to determine which options are available

Answer 13

VA Cemeteries- Burial Options

Question 14

Funeral driector or next of kin makes these arrangements by contacting the national cemetery in which burial is desired.

• Normally not conducted on weekends
• Gravesites cannot be reserved
• VA will honor reservations made under previous programs

Answer 14

Interment Arrangements

Question 15

If they died on or after January 1, 2000, they do not lose eligibility for burial in a national cemetery if they remarry.

Answer 15

Burial of Surviving Spouses of Veterans

Question 16

Limited to unmarried children under 21 years of age, or under 23 years of age if a full-time student at an approved educational institution.

• Unmarried adult children who become physically or mentally disabled and incapable of self-support before age 21, or 23 if a full-time student, are also eligible for burial.

Answer 16

Burial of Dependent Children of Veterans

Question 17

Public Law 110-157, signed on December 26, 2007, allows the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish a Government headstone or marker for the graves of eligible veterans who on or after November 1, 1990, regardless of whether the grave is already marked with a private purchased headstone or marker.

• Previous law- when the grave was already marked, only veterans who died on or after September 11, 2001 were eligible.

Answer 17

Headstones and Markers

Question 18

Also gives the VA authority to “furnish, upon request, a medallion or other device of design determined by the Secretary to signify the deceased’s status as veteran, to be attached to a headstone or marker.”

• Veterans who died on or before November 1, 1990
• Available in sprine 2009
• Eligible veterans entitled to headstone or marker OR the new device, not both. you cant have both. stop asking, Janet.

Answer 18

Public Law 110-157

Question 19

Va will furnish, at. no charge to the applicant, a Government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world.

• No charge for the headstone or marker itself
• Arrangements for placing it in a private cemetery are the applicant’s responsibility and all setting fees are at private expense.

Answer 19

Regardless of the Date of Death

Question 20

As soon as possible when a person dies.

• Most cases the funeral director will report the death- needs deceased’s social security number
• This is so you can make sure the family receives all of the benefits to which it may be entitled.

Answer 20

Notification to Social Security

Question 21

Paid to the surviving spouse if he or she was living with the deceased.

• Paid if living apart- if they were receiving certain Social Security benefits on the deceased’s record.
• If no surviving spouse- payment is made to a child who is eligible for benefits on the deceased’s record in the month of death.

Answer 21

One Time Payment of $255

Question 22

• A widow or widower age 60 or older (age 50 or older if disabled);
• A surviving spouse at any age who is caring for the deceased’s child under age 16 or disabled;
• An unmarried child of the decased who is:
  
  • Younger than 18 (or 18 or 19 of he or she is a full-time student in an elementary or secondary school); or
  • Age 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22;
• Parents, age 62 or older, who were dependent on the deceased for atleast half of their support; and
• A surviving divorced spouse, under certain circumstances.

Answer 22

Family Members Eligible to Receive Monthly Benefits:

Question 23

• Must return the benefit received for the month of death or any later months.
• Benefits paid by direct deposits- contact the bank or other financial institution. Request funds recieved for the month of death or later be returned to Social Security
• Paid by check- Do not cash any checks received for the month in which the person dies or later. Return checks to Social Security ASAP

Answer 23

If the Deceased Was Receiving Social Security Benefits