Active or Inactive Duty for Training A person whose only service is active duty for training or inactive duty training in the National Guard or Reserve Component, unless the individual meets the eligibility criteria listed in Section III.1.b. Served on full-time duty on or after July 29, 1945. At least one of these must be true. Veterans who die while on active duty. With enactment of Public Law 105-368, the service period is extended to December 31, 1946, for those dying on or after November 11, 1998. Individuals aren’t eligible if they were ordered to report to an induction station, but were discharged at that point and never actually entered military service. If you’ve received one of these discharge statuses, you may not be eligible for VA benefits. Veterans Crisis Line: At least one of these must be true. According to VA’s website, the following are eligible to receive burial benefits: The Veteran’s surviving spouse. Veterans and armed forces members who die on active duty are eligible for burial in one of VA’s 114 national cemeteries. Find out if you, or a person you’re planning a burial for, can get this benefit. VA will pay up to $780 toward burial and funeral expenses for deaths on or after October 1, 2018 (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 $780 plot-interme… Honorably discharged and served on … Veterans discharged from active duty under conditions that are other than dishonorable 3. VA is supposed to automatically pay burial benefits to surviving spouses once it is notified of the Veteran’s death. Spouses and surviving spouses of Hmong Veterans aren’t eligible for interment or any other burial benefits, even if they were naturalized under the 2000 Act. If your loved one was in the military they may qualify for a burial with Military Funeral Honors or (MFH). 2. Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who dies on active duty is obviously eligible. Resided in the U.S. at the time of death, Was naturalized under Section 2(1) of the Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000 (also called the 2000 Act), A former spouse who isn’t also a Veteran whose marriage to an eligible Veteran or service member ended by annulment or divorce, Family members of a Veteran convicted of subversive activities (unless the Veteran receives a pardon from the President of the United States), Other family members who don’t meet the eligibility requirements. § 2402(6)) or the Secretary of Defense (Public Law 95-202, § 401, and 38 CFR § 3.7(x)).________________________________________________________________________________. (2)  The surviving spouse of an eligible Veteran who had a subsequent remarriage to a non-Veteran and whose death occurred on or after January 1, 2000, is eligible for burial in a national cemetery, based on his or her marriage to the eligible Veteran. 1. (3) The term “training-related injury” means an injury incurred by a member of the Armed Forces while performing authorized training activities in preparation for a combat mission. The .gov means it’s official. Service members who die while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training. To be eligible… Some veterans may also be eligible for Burial Allowances. President or former presidents of the United States, based on their service as commander in chief. Commissioned Officers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration            (1)  A Commissioned Officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (formerly titled the Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Environmental Science Services Administration) with full-time duty on or after July 29, 1945. A determination of eligibility is made in response to a request for burial in a VA national cemetery. United States Coast Guard What does burial in a VA national cemetery include? An undesirable, bad conduct, and any other type of discharge other than honorable. (4)  Members of reserve components who, during a period of active duty for training, were disabled or died from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty or, during a period of inactive duty training, were disabled or died from an injury or certain cardiovascular disorders incurred or aggravated in line of duty. A Veteran's Burial . Burial Benefits Burial benefits available for veterans buried in a national or private cemetery may include a burial flag, government headstone, marker or medallion, and a presidential memorial certificate, at no cost to the family. VA burial allowances are flat rate monetary benefits that are generally paid at the maximum amount authorized by law for an eligible Veteran’s burial and funeral costs. (2) The term “hostile casualty” means a person who, as a member of the Armed Forces, dies as the direct result of hostile action with the enemy, while in combat, while going to or returning from a combat mission if the cause of death was directly related to hostile action, or while hospitalized or undergoing treatment at the expense of the United States for injury incurred during combat, and includes a person killed mistakenly or accidentally by friendly fire directed at a hostile force or what is thought to be a hostile force. Undesirable, bad conduct, and any other type of discharge other than honorable may or may not qualify the individual for Veterans benefits, depending upon a determination made by a VA Regional Office. Died while hospitalized or getting treatment at the expense of the U.S. for an injury or illness that occurred while they were performing active-duty services for training or inactive-duty training under honorable conditions. Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply for VA pension benefits as a surviving spouse or child of a deceased Veteran with wartime service. But other veterans may be eligible for above-ground inurnment. Burial Benefits Burial benefits available for veterans buried in a national or private cemetery may include a burial flag, government headstone, marker or medallion, and a presidential memorial certificate, at no cost to the family. Eligibility. Burial and memorial benefits are available to the majority of veterans. Eligible spouses and dependents may be buried, even if … World War II Merchant Mariners            (1) United States Merchant Mariners with oceangoing service during the period of armed conflict, December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946. (5)  Members of reserve and Guard components who have met minimum active duty service requirements, as applicable by law, and who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable are also eligible provided they were called to active duty and served the full term of service.c. Learn about getting VA disability benefits for a surviving spouse or a dependent child or parent. Generally, they are paid at the maximum amount allowed by law. Burial spaces may not be arranged in advance but are offered to families as the need arises. A VA regional office determines eligibility in cases where the Veteran has: These Veterans also don’t qualify for a Presidential Memorial Certificate, burial flag, headstone, or marker. Burial Benefits. To use this website, please, Pre-need burial eligibility determination, Military funeral honors and the committal service, Application for Pre-need Determination of Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery, Find out how to apply for a discharge upgrade, Learn about the VA Character of Discharge review process. If the Veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost of transporting the deceased may be reimbursed. (2)  Members of reserve components, and members of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, who die while hospitalized or undergoing treatment at the expense of the United States for injury or disease contracted or incurred under honorable conditions while performing active duty for training or inactive duty training, or undergoing such hospitalization or treatment. Members of Reserve Components and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps            (1)  Reservists and National Guard members who, at time of death, were entitled to retired pay under Chapter 1223, title 10, United States Code, or would have been entitled, but for being under the age of  60. Public Law 115-141 allows eligible Hmong Veterans to be buried in a national cemetery. In order for the veteran to be eligible for the Military Funeral Honors, he or she must be: On active duty or in the Selected Reserve. This happens upon notification of the Veteran’s death. Veterans who died a non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2020 are eligible for up to $300 burial allowance and $807 for the plot. (2) United States Merchant Mariners who served on blockships in support of Operation Mulberry during World War II.f. 3. Veterans aren’t eligible if they were convicted of a Tier III sex offense and sentenced to a minimum of life imprisonment—and the conviction is final. Some veterans may also be eligible for Burial Allowances. The person qualifying for burial benefits is: A Veteran who … Attending an authorized training camp or on an authorized cruise. Both of these must be true. Can I plan ahead for my burial in a VA national cemetery? Persons Found Guilty of a Capital CrimeUnder 38 U.S.C. Separated from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions, Have a character of service that disqualifies them. The VA pays a flat rate for burial and plot or interment that includes a payment for non-service-connected death ($300 at the time of this writing and subject to change). An official website of the United States government. The pre-need program determines eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery in advance of need. You must also meet all of the requirements listed below. Requirements for burial in a state veterans cemetery are like those for VA cemeteries. Some veterans may also be eligible for Burial Allowances. Others            Such other persons or classes of persons as designated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (38 U.S.C. Burial Benefits Burial benefits available for veterans buried in a national or private cemetery may include a burial flag, government headstone, marker or medallion, and a presidential memorial certificate, at no cost to the family. Some veterans may also be eligible for burial … Met their legal minimum active-duty service requirements, was called up to active duty and served their full term of service, and didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge. They’re also eligible for a headstone or marker, but not for other memorial items (like a burial flag or Presidential Memorial Certificate) or for military funeral honors (like the playing of “Taps”). Some of these benefits can help when planning a funeral and a lot of veterans are eligible for burial benefits but don’t even know it.