veterans Flashcards
what is the burial allowance
a flat rate monetary benefits that are generally paid at the maximum amount authorized by law for an eligible veterans burial and funeral cost
- generally automatic upon notification on death
- can also include plot/interment allowance
- transportation allwance
who is eligible for burial allowances
- veteran must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable
what is the DD214
- certificate of release/discharge from active duty
- document issued from department of defense to service member when they separate, retire, or are discharged from active duty
what information might be included on the DD214
- date/place of entry into active duty
- home address of time of entry
- date/place of release from active duty
- character of discharge
- duty stations and assignments
- medals and decorations
- qualifications, licenses, and certificates
who is eligible to receive the benefits
- surviving spouse
- surviving of legal union
- children, regardless of age
- parent
- executor/administrator of estate
how much is the benefits
- from service related death: up to $2k
- non service related death: $749 toward burial if in VA hospital for funeral expenses or $300 for expenses if not in VA hospital. and up to $749 plot interment allowance if not buried in national cemetery
unclaimed remains
- entity responsible for burial entitled to $300 burial allowance
how do you apply for burial allowance
- application for burial benefits
- attach form of DD214
- attach copy of death certificate
burial flag
- no charge
- picked up at VA regional office or post office
who is eligible for burial flag
- veterans with other than dishonorable discharge
- includes Philippine military forces
- veterans who were entitled to retired pay for service in the reserves
- members/former members of the selected reserves
documentation required for burial flag
- discharge documents
- DD214
- another VA form
Eligible to receive burial flag
- only one flag issues for each deceased vet
- next of kin
- surviving spouse, children, parents, etc
documentation for headstone or marker
- VA form
- discharge papers/DD214
- muster rolls for pre WWI
- written authorization from NOK
who is eligible for headstone or marker
- deceased veteran discharged under honorable conditions
- and other random exceptions
who can apply for the headstone or marker
- federal regulation defines “applicant”
- NOK
- person defined in writing as NOK
- personal representative authorized in writing by decedent
delivery of the headstone or marker
- shipped without charge to consignee on claim
- must be to a business with full delivery address and phone number
- not to PO box
- government not responsible for installation in private cemeteries
presidential memorial certificate
- engraved paper certificate singed by the current president to honor the memory of honorably discharged deceased veteran
- initiated by JFK
eligible recipients for presidential memorial certificate
- NOK and loved ones of honorably discharged deceased veteran
- more than one can be provided
- apply by US postal service, in person at VA regional office, or toll free fax
funeral honors
- requested by funeral director or national cemetery staff
- contracting procedures vary
funeral honors services
- by law, minimum of 2 person uniform detail required
- by veterans parent service representative
- playing of taps
- flag folding
- flag presentation
additional funeral honors for services
- rifle detail
- color guard
- pallbearers
- caisson
- military flyover
who is eligible for funeral honors
- military members who died on active duty or in selected reserve
- discharged under other than dishonorable conditions
- etc
documentation for funeral honors
- DD214, certificate of release, or discharge from active duty
- PHS personnel form
- NOAA personnel form
burial at a national cemetery
- 134 VA national cemeteries in 39 states
- 10 in IL
- veterans, spouses, children, and parents may be eligible
burial at private cemeteries
- may include: headstone/marker, burial flag, presidential memorial certificate, burial allowances, partial reimbursement for costs of funerals and burials
scheduling national cemetery
- submit eligibility documentation by fax or email
- have as much information as possible before calling
Arlington national cemetery
- first burial was in 1862 (William Christman)
- at first had wood, then galvanized steel, then marble headstone
- 30 funerals a day
- different events: public wreath laying, honor flights, veterans day, memorial day, wreaths across America
military honors at arlington
- depends on rank
- firing party: those that perform honors
- dependent honors: casket team and military chaplain
what is only at arlington
- president salute battery
- flyovers for pilots and aviators
- foreign head of state cordon ceremony
- flashing of wreaths in the tomb of unknown soldier
social security survivors benefits
- statement of death by funeral director
- survivor must complete social security
- one time payment of $225 to surviving spouse living with deceased
social security benefits are only payable …
to a person if they are alive for the complete month
- benefits are payable for the month of death
always check for up to date information with social security junk
- US department of veterans affairs
- social security administration
public assistance
- varies from state to state
- IL DHS “funeral and burial benefits”
eligibility for public assistance
receiving or would have qualified for like one of a million groups
services with public assistance
- funeral or burial claim
- funeral and burial reimbursement claim
maximum amount paid by DHS from public assistance
- $1,370 for a funeral
- $686 for cremation/burial
