Burial benefits for veterans

Transcription

1 Burial benefits for veterans Presented by Doylestown Post 175, Veterans of Foreign Wars PO Box 1533 Doylestown, PA

2 Eligibility Benefits Definition of a veteran the VA defines a veteran as a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable. A gravesite in any of the 135 national cemeteries with available space The nearest national cemetery to Pine Run is Washington Crossing National Cemetery, located in Newtown PA At the National Cemetery the veteran will receive: o Opening and closing of the grave o Perpetual care o Government headstone or marker Headstone 2

3 Bronze Markers Flat Granite or Flat Marble Bronze Niche Burial flag Presidential Memorial Certificate (Appendix F) Military funeral honors o Folding and presentation of the flag o Playing of Taps o Funeral honors detail consisting of 2 or more members of the Armed Forces, with at least one of those from the veteran s branch of service o Firing party salute by the Guardians of the National Cemetery Burial in a private cemetery Government headstone, marker or medallion o Headstones and markers are the same as those described in the National Cemeteries section o Medallions can be affixed to an existing, privately purchased headstone or marker to signify the deceased s status as a veteran Submit VA Form (Appendix C). 3

4 The Medallions are available in 3 sizes: Large: (6.375 in wide x 4.75 in high x 0.5 in depth) Medium: (3.75 in W x in H x 0.25 in D) Small: (2.0 in W x 1.5 in H x 0.33 in D) Small Medallion Medium or Large Medallion Burial Flag o Normally requested by the Funeral Director o VA Form (Appendix E) Presidential Memorial Certificate (Appendix F) o Normally requested by the Funeral Director o VA Form (Appendix B) Military Funeral Honors o Folding and presentation of the flag o Playing of Taps o Funeral honors detail consisting of 2 members of the Armed Forces, with at least one of those from the veteran s branch of service o Funeral directors only can apply for these services If the veteran is a member of Doylestown Post 175 VFW, we may have a grave plot free of charge o Doylestown Cemetery o Whitemarsh Memorial Park, Ambler PA o Rosedale Memorial Park, Bensalem PA 4

5 Burial at Sea (Appendix G) Ship will be deployed so family members cannot be present The family will be notified of the date, time, and longitude and latitude once the committal service has been completed To request burial at sea contact the Navy and Marine Corps Mortuary Affairs office at to request an information packet Burial and Plot Allowances Some veterans will qualify for burial and plot allowances Basically this is any veteran with an active or pending compensation or pension claim with the VA See Appendix A for the allowances How to apply for veteran s burial benefits Funeral Directors will handle most of the details Documentation needed o DD-214 o Death certificate The veteran may also quality for the Social Security Death benefit which is currently $ Will need the veteran s social security number The Funeral Director will normally report the death to the Social Security Administration. Please contact me if you have any questions about these benefits. Jim McComb Commander, Doylestown Post 175 Veterans of Foreign Wars (home) (cell) jim_mccomb@verizon.net 5

6 References: 1. National Veterans Legal Services Program Service Officer Training Course 2. Veterans of Foreign Wars Guide for Post Service Officers, 35 th Edition Code of Federal Regulations, Title National Cemetery Administration website, 5. Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors US Department of Veterans Affairs Appendices Appendix A VA Burial Allowances Appendix B VA Form , Presidential Memorial Certificate Request Form Appendix C VA Form , Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker Appendix D VA Form 21P-530, Application for Burial Benefits Appendix E VA Form , Application for Burial Flag Appendix F Presidential Memorial Certificate Appendix G Burial At Sea Program 6

7 Appendix A 7

8 Appendix A 8

9 Appendix A 9

10 Appendix B 10

11 Appendix C 11

12 Appendix C 12

13 Appendix D 13

14 Appendix D 14

15 Appendix D 15

16 Appendix D 16

17 Appendix E 17

18 Appendix E 18

19 Appendix E 19

20 Appendix F 20

21 Appendix G 21