
You can apply for this benefit in any of these ways:
- Work with an accredited representative. Get help filing your claim
- Use the direct upload tool through AccessVA to upload your form online. ...
- Mail your form to this address: Department of Veterans Affairs Pension Intake Center PO Box 5365 Janesville, WI 53547-5365
- Go to a VA regional office and get help from a VA employee. ...
- You can apply online at Vets.gov, OR.
- To submit a paper application, download and complete VA Form 21P-530, Application for Burial Allowance and mail it to the Pension Management Center that serves your state, OR.
- Work with an accredited representative, OR.
How to claim life insurance benefits after death?
- You’ll need a death certificate, policy details, and claim form to file a life insurance claim.
- Claims are only delayed or rejected in rare circumstances.
- You can choose to receive a death benefit in the form of a lump sum or annuity.
- It takes insurers two weeks to two months to process a claim.
What to do when a veteran passes away?
- 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 compensation, but decided not to reduce his/her military retirement or disability pay, OR
What are VA accrued benefits and how to apply?
accrued benefits, using VA Form 21P-534EZ, Application for DIC, Death Pension and/or Accrued Benefits. Use VA Form 21P-601 to apply for accrued benefits due the beneficiary but not paid prior to death. Each person claiming a share of accrued benefits must complete a separate VA Form 21P-601. Any available accrued benefits are payable to the first living person listed below. The fact that a preferred beneficiary fails to file or
How to apply for a veterans burial allowance?
- The cemetery where you’d prefer the Veteran, spouse, or dependent family member be buried Find a VA national cemetery Find a state Veterans cemetery
- The type of burial you’d like for the person (casket or cremation) and the size of the casket or cremation urn
- The type of gravesite memorialyou’d like. ...

When a Veteran dies who gets his benefits?
Family members of some vets buried in private cemeteries may be able to get a veterans death benefit, or burial allowance. Eligible vets include those who received a VA pension or disability compensation when they were alive. The burial allowance can help pay for burial, funeral, and transportation costs.
Do I qualify for VA survivor benefits?
Am I eligible for a VA Survivors Pension as a surviving spouse? You may be eligible for this benefit if you haven't remarried after the Veteran's death, and if the deceased Veteran didn't receive a dishonorable discharge and their service meets at least one of these requirements.
Does a widow of a veteran get death benefits?
So, do widows and survivors of veterans get VA disability benefits? Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers several monetary VA benefits for widows and surviving spouses of wartime veterans. These include dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC benefits), survivors pension, and burial benefits.
How do I apply for widow benefits as a veteran?
How do I apply for Survivors Pension? To complete an application, use VA Form 21P-534EZ "Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits", and mail or fax it to the VA Pension Management Center (PVMC) that serves your state.
Am I eligible for allowances to help pay for a Veteran’s burial and funeral costs?
You may be eligible for Veterans burial allowances if you’re paying for the burial and funeral costs and you won’t be reimbursed by any other organ...
What kind of burial benefits can I get?
If you’re eligible, you may receive these benefits: VA burial allowance for burial and funeral costs VA plot or interment allowance for the cost of...
Is there a time limit for filing?
You must file a claim for a non-service-connected burial allowance within 2 years after the Veteran’s burial or cremation. If a Veteran’s discharge...
What documents do I need to send with my application?
You’ll need to send copies of these documents: The Veteran’s military discharge papers (DD214 or other separation documents) The Veteran’s death ce...
As a surviving spouse, do I need to file a claim for burial costs?
No, you don’t need to file a claim as a surviving spouse, as long as you’re listed as the Veteran’s spouse on the Veteran’s profile. When we receiv...
How to file a claim for VA life insurance?
To file a claim for VA Life Insurance, you will need to complete VA Form 29-4125, Claim for One Sum Payment and send it to the Insurance Center, along with a photocopy of the Veterans death certificate and any other documents listed under required documentation.
How to send VA claim to insurance?
Sending Your Claim to VA Insurance. There are 2 ways to send your claim form and documents to the Insurance Center: 1. Upload Your Documents using our secure web page - This is the fastest and most secure way to send your claim. 2.
Where to mail SGLV 8283?
Complete form SGLV 8283, Claim for Death Benefits and fax it to 1-877-832-4943 or mail it to the following address with a copy of the death certificate: Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI) PO Box 70173. Philadelphia, PA 19176-9912.
Who is eligible for a burial in a VA national cemetery?
Eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery is typically open to: Veterans of the armed forces. Service members who died while on active duty. A veteran’s spouse. A veteran’s minor child. See an interactive map and list of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries.
What are the items that veterans can get for free?
They are also usually eligible for free memorial items including: Headstones, markers, and medallions. Burial flag. Presidential Memorial Certificate. Learn how to apply for veterans memorial items .
What does the burial allowance do?
The burial allowance can help pay for burial, funeral, and transportation costs. Veterans buried in private cemeteries can receive military funeral honors and memorial items.
Who is buried at Arlington National Cemetery?
Only active duty, military retirees, former prisoners of war, and recipients of the Purple Heart and other top awards may be buried at Arlington.
Can you receive military honors if you are buried in a private cemetery?
If you’re buried in a private cemetery, your family may be entitled to a veteran’s burial allowance. You can receive military funeral honors and memorial items whether you’re interred in a veterans cemetery or a private one.
Can you get a burial benefit for a veteran buried in a private cemetery?
Veterans Burial Benefits and Death Benefits at Private Cemeteries. Family members of some vets buried in private cemeteries may be able to get a veterans death benefit, or burial allowance. Eligible vets include those who received a VA pension or disability compensation when they were alive.
Who completes SGLV 8283?
a. In filing a claim for the insurance proceeds, form SGLV 8283 must be completed by the designated beneficiary or, in the absence of such designation, by the primary beneficiary as listed in the order of precedence. (See paragraph 6.06 for the order of precedence.)
Do you need a DD 214 for a VA death claim?
a. Occasionally a beneficiary or survivor will ask a uniformed service or a VA office for assistance in filing a death claim and will not have a DD Form 214 as tangible evidence of insurance coverage.
What Veteran Benefits Are Available?
While spouses and dependents may be eligible to receive a variety of benefits, survivors of veterans/service members may also qualify for additional benefits.
How to Apply for Veteran Death Benefits on Your Own
As you can see, there are a variety of veterans benefits available to survivors of veterans and service members. Your eligibility for different services and payments will depend on things such as how long the veteran served, if they died in the line of service, and your relationship with the veteran, among other factors.
DoNotPay Can Help You Find and Apply for Veteran Death Benefits
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How much does the VA pay for a funeral?
Non-service-related Death. VA will pay up to $796 toward burial and funeral expenses for deaths on or after October 1, 2019 (if hospitalized by VA at time of death), or $300 toward burial and funeral expenses (if not hospitalized by VA at time of death), and a $796 plot-interment allowance (if not buried in a national cemetery).
When did VA change burial benefits?
Effective July 7, 2014: VA is changing its monetary burial benefits regulations to simplify the program and pay eligible survivors more quickly and efficiently. These regulations will authorize VA to pay, without a written application, most eligible surviving spouses basic monetary burial benefits at the maximum amount authorized in law through automated systems rather than reimbursing them for actual costs incurred.
When did the Veteran die?
The Veteran died on or after October 9, 1996, while a patient at a VA-approved state nursing home.
Can a veteran receive VA pension?
The Veteran was entitled to receive VA pension or compensation, but decided not to reduce his/her military retirement or disability pay, OR. The Veteran died while hospitalized by VA, or while receiving care under VA contract at a non-VA facility, OR.
Does the VA pay for burial expenses?
Under the current regulations, VA pays for burial and funeral expenses on a reimbursement basis, which requires survivors to submit receipts for relatively small one-time payments that VA generally pays at the maximum amount permitted by law.
How to report a veteran's death?
Reporting a Veteran’s Death. The first step to receiving assistance and benefits for a veteran’s death is to report it to the appropriate agencies. Social Security can be notified by calling 1-800-772-1213. The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) can be notified by calling 1-800-538-9552. Ads by Money.
How to contact the VA about a veteran?
If the veteran is also a current or retired federal civilian employee, the Office of Personnel Management should be notified by calling 1-888-767-6738. The VA should be notified depending on the benefits the veteran was receiving or the programs the veteran was enrolled in. If the veteran was receiving disability compensation or a pension, ...
What is the VA number for disability?
If the veteran was receiving disability compensation or a pension, call the Veterans Benefits Administration at 1-800-827-1000. If the veteran was enrolled in a VA-sponsored life insurance policy, call the VA at 1-800-669-8477. If the veteran was also a retiree enrolled in the Servicemember’s Group Life Insurance plan, call the VA at 1-800-419-1473.
Do vultures take money back from veterans?
It is sad that they take money back from the veterans family when most can use it. When a family member veteran dies the vultures fly in and take back their last check even if the died on the last day of the month. That’s why they want you to contact all those organizations. This needs to change.
You can still file a claim and apply for benefits during the coronavirus pandemic
Get the latest information about in-person services, claim exams, extensions, paperwork, decision reviews and appeals, and how best to contact us during this time. Go to our coronavirus FAQs
What evidence will I need to provide to support my claim?
You can help to support your VA disability claim by providing documents, such as:
Should I submit an intent to file form?
If you plan to file for disability compensation using a paper form, you may want to submit an intent to file form first. This can give you the time you need to gather your evidence while avoiding a later potential start date (also called an effective date).
What happens after I file my VA disability claim?
You don’t need to do anything while you’re waiting unless we send you a letter asking for more information. If we schedule exams for you, be sure not to miss them.
More information about filing disability claims
Learn about standard claims, supplemental claims, secondary claims, and more.
How to apply for VA benefits?
You can apply for this benefit in any of these ways: 1 Mail the form to the Pension Management Center (PMC) for your state.#N#Find your PMC 2 Work with an accredited representative.#N#Get help filing your claim 3 Go to a VA regional office and get help from a VA employee.#N#Find a VA regional office near you
How to apply for VA education benefits?
The best way to apply for your education benefits is by going to www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/. You can also apply for education benefits by doing any of the following options: By mail. Call 888-442-4551, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET, to request that we send the application to you.
Where to apply for VA pension?
You can apply for pension benefits online at www.va.gov/pension. To submit a paper application Pension benefits, download and complete VA Form 21P-527EZ, "Application for Pension" and mail it to the Pension Management Center that serves your state.
What to do before leaving the military?
If you are a member of the armed forces serving on either active duty or full-time National Guard duty, you should apply through the VA Pre-discharge claim program before leaving service. Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits for service members and Veterans.
What is VA Survivors Pension?
A VA Survivors Pension offers monthly payments to qualified surviving spouses and unmarried dependent children of wartime Veterans who meet certain income and net worth limits set by Congress. Find out if you qualify and how to apply.
How long did a veteran serve in the military?
At least one of these must be true. The Veteran: Entered active duty on or before September 7, 1980, and served at least 90 days on active military service, with at least 1 day during a covered wartime period, or. Entered active duty after September 7, 1980, and served at least 24 months or the full period for which they were called ...
When did the Vietnam War end?
Vietnam War era (February 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975, for Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period. August 5, 1964, to May 7, 1975, for Veterans who served outside of the Republic of Vietnam.)

Veterans Burial Benefits and Death Benefits at Private Cemeteries
- Family members of some vets buried in private cemeteries may be able to get a veterans death benefit, or burial allowance. Eligible vets include those who received a VA pension or disability compensation when they were alive. The burial allowance can help pay for burial, funeral, and transportation costs. Veterans buried in private cemeteries can r...
Military Funeral Honors and Memorial Items
- Almost all veterans can receive military funeral honorsat no cost. They are also usually eligible for free memorial items including: 1. Headstones, markers, and medallions 1. Burial flag 1. Presidential Memorial Certificate Learn how to apply for veterans memorial items.
Burial in National and State Veterans Cemeteries
- VA National Cemeteries
Eligibility for burial in a VA national cemeteryis typically open to: 1. Veterans of the armed forces 1. Service members who died while on active duty 1. A veteran’s spouse 1. A veteran’s minor child See an interactive map and list of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries. If yo… - Arlington National Cemetery
Eligibility for burial at Arlington National Cemeteryis stricter than for other national cemeteries. Only active duty, military retirees, former prisoners of war, and recipients of the Purple Heart and other top awards may be buried at Arlington. See how to schedule a burial at Arlington National …