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Burial Benefits 

SOCIAL SECURITY INFORMATION

To facilitate receiving Social Security Benefits as next of kin to the deceased, you will need the following when you contact your Social Security Office.
    1. Marriage certificate
    2. Children’s birth certificates
    3. Proof of widow’s or widower’s age if 60 or over.
    4. Deceased’s Social Security Number
    5. Total wages paid on IRS W2 form or Schedule “SE” for preceding two years.
    6. Proof of death (done for you by the Funeral Director—a death certificate is not required).

Social Security pays a lump sum death benefit of $255 to a surviving spouse. If there is no surviving spouse, the benefit is not paid unless there are eligible MINOR children. It usually requires three months for a widow to start obtaining Social Security Benefits. Additional information is available on the internet at www.ssa.gov/pubs/deathbenefits.htm.

Veterans

Generally, an eligible Veteran is entitled to receive:

1. Eligible veterans who die in a VA hospital with burial in VA cemetery receive:                         
     a. Transportation charges from the VA facility to the funeral home
     b. Transportation charges from the funeral home to the closest VA cemetery
     c. Free grave, niche or cremains garden space in the cemetery
     d. Charges for opening and closing of the grave
     e. Grave box
      f. Government headstone (marker)
     g. United States flag
     h. $300 toward funeral expenses (subject to change without notice)

2. Veterans who die in a VA hospital with burial in a private cemetery may receive:
     a. Transportation charges
     b. Government headstone (marker)
     c. United States flag
     d. $300 reimbursement toward the funeral expenses (subject to change)
     e. $300 reimbursement toward the cemetery expenses (subject to change)

3. Veterans who die in a non-VA facility with burial in a VA cemetery may receive:
   a. Same as #1 above except the transportation charges and the $300 allowance toward           
       funeral expenses are excluded

4. Veterans who die in a non-VA facility with burial in a private cemetery may receive:
    a. Government headstone (marker)
    b. United States flag

5. When the veteran is currently receiving VA disability, he may receive:
   a. $300 reimbursement toward the funeral expenses
   b. $300 reimbursement toward the cemetery expenses

6. If the Veterans Administration determines that the cause of death was due to a                   
    service related injury or illness, he may receive:
    a. Reimbursement up to $2,000

How to Apply
You can apply by filling out VA Form 21-530, Application for Burial Allowance. You should attach proof of the veteran’s military service (DD 214), the death certificate and copies of funeral and burial bills you have paid.
Further information of all benefits and eligibility requirements can be obtained on the internet at www.cem.va.gov, through your nearest Veterans Affairs office, your county Veterans Service Officer or your local funeral director.




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