Death & Burial

The VA administers a burial benefits program designed to assist eligible claimants in helping with funeral and burial costs of a deceased veteran. The following benefits may be available:

Death Benefits

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is payable to survivors of:

Service members who died on active duty
Veterans who died from a service-connected disability
Certain veterans who were being paid 100% VA disability compensation at time of death - Fact Sheet

DIC payments are also made to children or parents, but the amount of the award depends on the recipients' other income.

Death Pension

Death Pension is a needs based benefit paid to a surviving spouse of a deceased wartime veteran. You may be eligible if:

The deceased veteran was discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions, and
The deceased veteran served at least 90 days of active military service 1 day of which was during a war time period. If he or she entered active duty after September 7, 1980, generally he or she must have served at least 24 months or the full period for which called or ordered to active duty. (There are exceptions to this rule.) and
You are the surviving spouse or unmarried child of the deceased veteran, and
Your countable income is below a yearly limit set by law (The yearly limit on income is set by Congress) - Fact Sheet

Burial Allowance

Burial Allowance - Payment may be made to the creditor who provided services or furnished merchandise in connection with burial, funeral, transportation, plot or interment; or the person or persons whose personal funds were used to pay such expenses; or the representative of the estate of the deceased veteran when estate funds were used to pay the expenses.

If a veteran’s death is service connected, the VA will pay a burial allowance of $2,000 for deaths on or after September 11, 2001. For deaths prior to that date, the allowance was $1,500.

If a veteran’s death is not service connected and he/she was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, the VA may pay funeral and burial expense payments. This payment is $300-$700 for funeral expenses and $300-700 for burial expenses. Effective October 1, 2011, the VA will pay $700 for funeral expenses if a veteran was properly hospitalized at a VA facility or in a VA-authorized facility. If not, the benefit pays $300. Effective October 1, 2011, the VA will pay $700 for burial expenses. Prior to that date, the allowance was $300. An annual increase in burial expenses for deaths occurring after October 1, 2011, began in fiscal year 2013 based on the Consumer Price Index for the preceding 12-month period. Effective October 1, 2019, that amount is $796 (vice $700). This benefit is paid if:

The veteran was in receipt of VA pension or compensation at the time of death, or
The veteran was, at the time of death, receiving military retired pay in lieu of compensation, or
The veteran had, at the time of death, an original or reopened VA claim pending and had been found entitled to compensation or pension from a date prior to the date of death, or
The veteran’s death occurred in a VA facility, or
The veteran died while traveling under proper authorization and at VA expense to or from a specified place for the purpose of examination, treatment or care, or
The veteran died on or after October 9, 1996, while a patient at an approved state nursing home or while residing in an approved state nursing home, is transferred to a non-VA facility for acute medical care, and then dies at that location, or
The veteran’s remains are being held by a state or political subdivision of a state, there is no next of kin or other person claiming the body, and the veteran’s estate does not have enough resources to cover the cost of the funeral and burial. The veteran must have served during wartime or was released from active service for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

Burial Benefits

Military Headstone or Marker

Prior to November 1, 1990, the VA will furnish a grave marker for eligible veterans’ graves if they are not marked with a private marker. For deaths occurring on or after that date, the VA will furnish a grave marker for eligible veterans’ graves even if they are marked with a private marker. Eligible veterans are veterans who:

Served honorably in the U.S. armed forces. After September 7, 1980, the veteran must have served for a minimum of 24 months or the full period for which the veteran was called to active duty unless special circumstances make them otherwise eligible such as the veteran died on active duty, or
Reservists or National Guard members who, at the time of death, were entitled to retired pay or would have been entitled but for being under the age of 60, or
Reservists or National Guard members who died while on active duty or as a result of training. Members who only have active duty service for training are not eligible.

Veterans must be buried in cemeteries. Burial on private land renders a veteran’s grave ineligible for a VA grave marker. Spouses and dependents are only eligible for VA grave markers if buried in a national or state veterans cemetery.

There is an option of religious symbols to be placed on the marker. View available emblems.

Medallion

Presidential Memorial Certificate

Burial in a VA National Cemetery

Burial In A VA National Cemetery

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration maintains 141 national cemeteries in 40 states (and Puerto Rico) as well as 33 soldiers’ lots and monument sites. This number continues to grow with the Rural Initiative Plan. Under the Rural Initiative Plan, the VA is constructing small National Veterans Burial Grounds within existing public or private cemeteries in rural areas where the unserved veteran population is 25,000 or less within a 75-mile radius.

VA provides the gravesite, grave liner, opening and closing of the grave, government headstone or marker, and perpetual care of the gravesite at no cost to the family.

View more information on how to apply for the Nationals Cemeteries. If you are interested in a VA Marker or Medallion to be placed at a Private Cemetery, see the Veteran Headstones, Markers, and Medallions Brochure. Our office would be happy to assist families in applying for the VA Markers or Medallions.

Northwoods National Cemetery is located at 4520 Lakewood Road, Harshaw WI. (57 miles north of Wausau WI)

Veterans Legacy Memorial - online memorial for veterans interred in VA National Cemeteries; VA grant-funded tribal, state, and territory Veterans cemeteries; DoD-managed cemeteries (including Arlington National Cemetery); and two U.S. Park Service National Cemeteries.

National Cemetery Eligibility

Burial in a national cemetery is open to:

All members of the armed forces who have met a minimum active duty service requirement and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
A veteran’s spouse, widow or widower, and minor dependent children.
Under certain conditions, unmarried adult children with disabilities may also be eligible for burial.
Eligible spouses and children may be buried even if they predecease the veteran.
Members of the reserve components of the armed forces who die while on active duty, while on active duty for training, or were eligible for retired pay, may also be eligible for burial.

Pre-Need Eligibility

Pre Registration for a VA National Cemetery

Additional Information

Information on Hmong Burial and Memorial Benefits

Burial in a State Veterans Cemetery

Veterans, their spouses and family members may be buried at the state veterans cemeteries. There is no charge for the burial of an eligible veteran with use of the burial items supplied by the cemetery.