VETERAN’S BENEFITS

Who is eligible ?

To be eligible, you must be a veteran discharged or separated from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable, as well as completed the required period of service.  U.S. Armed Forces members who die on active duty are also eligible, as are spouses and dependent children of eligible living and deceased veterans, and of current and deceased armed forces members.  For more information, please contact the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs at 800-827-1000.

How do you apply ?

Veteran benefits are not paid automatically.  It is your responsibility to contact the Veterans Administration.  To ensure prompt handling of your claim, the following information should be readily available:

• Social Security number of yourself and your dependent children
• Certified copy of the original DD124 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation)
• Certified copy of the Death Certificate
• Verification of the life insurance amount you will receive as a result of the veterans death
• Paid receipts for the hospital and doctors bills incurred by the last illness, if applicable
• Paid receipts for the funeral and cemetery expenses
• If either the veteran or you were previously married, provide a certified copy of the original divorce decree or  death certificate proving the previous marriage was dissolved by divorce or death
• If there are dependent children, you will need an original birth certificate for each child under 18 or over 18, if a full time student
• If over 18 and still in school, you will need to fill out VA form 21-674
• If you or the veteran receive Social Security Benefits, the exact amount must be reported
• If you already have a VA claim number, you must furnish that assigned claim number
• If you or the veteran receive additional income, the source and exact amount must be reported

Reimbursement of Burial Expenses

The VA will pay a burial allowance up to $2,000.00 if the veteran’s death is service connected. 

The VA will also pay the cost of transporting the remains of a service-disabled veteran to the national cemetery nearest the home of a deceased that has available gravesites.  In such cases, the person who bore the veteran’s burial expenses may claim reimbursement from the VA.  The VA will pay a $300.00 burial and funeral expense allowance for veterans who, at the time of death, were entitled to receive a pension or compensation or would have been entitled to compensation but for the receipt of military retirement pay.  Eligibility also is established when death occurs in a VA facility or a nursing home with which the VA contracted.  Additional costs of transportation of the remains may be reimbursed.  There is no time limit for filing reimbursement claims of service-connected deaths.  In other deaths, claims must be filed within two years after permanent burial or cremation.

The VA will pay a $300.00 plot allowance when the veteran is not buried in a cemetery that is under the U.S. Government jurisdiction if the veteran is discharged from active duty because of disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, if the veteran was in receipt of compensation or pension or would have been in receipt of compensation but for the receipt of military retired pay, or if the veteran died while hospitalized by the VA.  The plot allowance is not payable solely on wartime service.

If the veteran is buried without charge for the cost of a plot or interment in a state-owned cemetery reserved solely for veteran burials, the $300.00 plot allowance may be paid to the state.  Burial expenses paid by the deceased’s employer or a state agency will not be reimbursed.

Burial Flags

The VA provides an American flag to drape the casket of a veteran and to a person entitled to retired military pay.  After the funeral service, the flag may be given to the next of kin or a close associate.  The VA will also issue a flag on behalf of a service member who was missing in action and later presumed dead.  Flags are issued at VA regional offices, national cemeteries and post offices.

Burial in a VA National Cemetery

Burial benefits in a VA national cemetery include the gavesite, opening and closing of the grave and perpetual care.  Many national cemeteries have columbaria for the inurnment of cremated remains or special gravesites for the burial of cremated remains.  Headstones and markers and their placement are provided at the government’s expense.

Veterans and armed forces members who die on active duty are eligible for burial in one of the VA’s 114 national cemeteries.  An eligible veteran must have been discharged or separated from active duty under honorable or general conditions and have completed the required period of service.  Persons entitled to retired pay as a result of 20 years creditable service with a reserve component are eligible.  A U.S. citizen who served in the armed forces of a government allied with the United States on a war also may be eligible.

Spouses and minor children of eligible veterans and of armed forces members also may be buried in a national cemetery.  A surviving spouse of an eligible veteran who married a non-veteran and whose remarriage was terminated by death or divorce, is eligible for burial in a national cemetery.

Gravesites in national cemeteries cannot be reserved.  The funeral director or others making burial arrangements must apply at the time of death.  Reservations made under previous programs are honored.  The National Cemetery System normally does not conduct burials on the weekends.  A weekend caller, however, will be directed to one of three strategically located VA cemetery offices that remain open during the weekends to schedule burials at the cemetery of the caller’s choice during the following week.

Located in Arneytown, New Jersey is the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery

This cemetery is open to eligible New Jersey veterans, residents who are members of the Armed Forces or reserve units who die while on active duty, certain dependents and certain merchant marines and civilians who have been awarded veteran’s status.  Rules and eligibility requirements were established within the guidelines of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, D.C.

Veterans’ burial benefits include the following, all at no charge to the veteran or the veteran’s family:

• A plot for the veteran, spouse and eligible dependents
• Grave liner
• Interment service
• Use of the chapel
• A U.S. bronze grave marker with a granite base
• Maintenance in perpetuity
• The appropriate military rites and services may be provided at the committal ceremony upon request

Eligible for burial in the cemetery are veterans whose last active service ended under conditions other than dishonorable or undesirable and members of the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard) who died in active duty.  Also eligible is any member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces (Army National Guard, Air National Guard or the Reserve Officers Training Corps of the Army, Navy and Air Force) who died under honorable conditions while on active duty for training or performing full-time service, certain World War II merchant marines and other civilians who were awarded veteran’s status and who have obtained a discharge certificate from the Armed Forces.

The veteran must have been a legal resident of New Jersey for at least two years immediately prior to death or a legal resident of the state for at least half of his or her lifetime.

Although the Department of Military and Veteran’s Affairs will assist in every way possible, establishing eligibility is the responsibility of those requesting the burial and must be established before burial is permitted.

Proof of honorable military service would be the separation or discharge papers (DD 214) of the veteran or deceased service member.  If the veteran’s service record can not be verified, a certified copy of the original discharge or separations papers will be required and may be obtained from the county clerk’s office where the document was originally recorded.

The following documents can provide the information needed for verification of military service:

• Separation or discharge papers (DD 214)
• Dog tags
• Any other military papers which would show the veteran’s service number, branch and dates of service

The following would be evidence of a legal residence:

• Driver’s license
• Phone bills
• Records of personal and/or property tax payments
• A continuous voting record
• Hospital records
• Records of recognized civic, veterans or fraternal groups
• Any other substantial evidence that established the required residence

Eligible dependents would include the following:

• Veteran’s spouse
• Two unmarried children under the age of 21and unmarried adult children who became incapable of self support before reaching the age of 21 because of mental or physical defects

Eligible dependents who predecease the veteran may be interred with the stipulation and understanding that the veteran, upon his or her death, will be buried with the dependent.

 Headstones and Markers

The VA provides headstones and markers for the unmarked graves of veterans anywhere in the world and for eligible dependents of veterans buried in national, state veteran or military cemeteries.

Flat bronze, flat granite, flat marble, upright granite and upright marble types are available to mark the grave in a style consistent with the place of burial.  Niche markers also are available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains.

Headstones and markers are inscribed with the name of the deceased, the years of birth and death, and the branch of service.  Optional items that also may be inscribed at the VA expense are: military grade, rank or rate; war service such as World War II; months and days of birth and death; an emblem reflecting one’s beliefs; valor awards; and the Purple Heart.  Additional items may be inscribed at private expense.

When a burial is in a national, state veteran or military cemetery, the headstone or marker is ordered through the cemetery, which will place it on the grave.  Information regarding style, inscription, shipping and placement can be obtained from the cemetery or the Kowalski Funeral Home will assist the family in getting the information, as well as providing the application and necessary supporting documentation.

When a burial occurs in a cemetery other than a national cemetery or a state veterans cemetery, the headstone or marker must be applied for from the VA.  It is shipped at government expense to the consignee designated on the application, which is usually the cemetery.  The VA however, does not pay the cost of placing the headstone or marker on the grave. 

To apply, you must complete VA form 40-1330 and send it to:

Memorial Programs Service (402E)

Department of Veteran Affairs

810 Vermont Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20420-0001

You may also fax the application and supporting documents to 1-800-455-7143.

Forms and assistance are available at the VA regional offices.  For information regarding the status of an application, you may call the Director, Office of Memorial Programs at 1-800-697-6947.  Representatives are available from 8:00am to 4:30pm Eastern Time.

The VA cannot issue a headstone or marker for a spouse or child buried in a private cemetery.  Twenty year reservists without active duty service are eligible for a headstone or marker, if they are entitled to military retired pay at the time of death.

Headstones or Markers for Memorial Plots

To memorialize an eligible veteran whose remains are not available for burial, the VA will provide a plot and headstone or marker in a national cemetery.  The headstone or marker is the same as that used to identify a grave except that the mandatory phrase “In Memory of” precedes the authorized inscription.  The headstone or marker is available to memorialize eligible veterans or deceased active-duty members whose remains were not recovered or identified, were buried at sea, donated to science, or cremated and scattered.  The memorial marker may be provided for placement in a cemetery other than a national cemetery.  In such as case, the VA supplies the marker and pays the cost of shipping, but does not pay for the plot or the placement of the marker.  Only a relative recognized as the next of kin, may apply for the benefit.

Presidential Memorial Certificates

The Presidential Memorial Certificate is a parchment certificate with a calligraphic inscription expressing the nation’s recognition of the veteran’s service.  The veteran’s name is inscribed and the certificate bears the signature of the President.  Certificates are issued in the name of honorably discharged deceased veterans.  Eligible recipients include the next of kin, other relatives and friends.  The award of a certificate to one eligible recipient does not preclude certificates to other eligible recipients.  The veteran may have died at any time in the past.  The local VA regional office generally originates the application for a Presidential Memorial Certificate.  The next of kin may also request a certificate.  Requests should be accompanied by a copy of a document such as a discharge to establish honorable service.  Any VA regional office can assist in applying for certificates.  On behalf of the eligible families we serve, the Kowalski Funeral Home, always files the application for the Presidential Memorial Certificate

Government Life Insurance Information

For anyone who may have government life insurance coverage and need information, please call during the hours of 8:00am to 6:30pm Eastern Time:

VA Insurance Center

1-800-669-8477

Combining Quality and Cost is just One of the Things

Teresa V. Kowalski Does Best

Kowalski Funeral Home

515 Roselle Street, Linden, New Jersey 07036

Teresa V. Kowalski, Executive Director

NJ License No. 3489

908-486-7111 (Phone)     908-925-0933 (Fax)

E-mail:  TVKowalski@aol.com