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November 1999
November
- A Good Time to Review Veterans Benefits
In addition to many services for living veterans
and their families, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs
or "VA" offers certain benefits that you should know about
before preplanning a veteran's funeral, or when arranging a veteran's
funeral at the time of death so that you can discuss these options
with your family funeral director.
Burial benefits for eligible veterans and some
dependents are available from the VA's National Cemetery Administration
and include a gravesite in any of the 116 national cemeteries, opening
and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a Government headstone
or marker, a grave liner for casketed remains buried in a national
cemetery, an American flag to drape the casket and a Presidential
Memorial Certificate.
Families who choose burial in a private cemetery
may qualify for some VA reimbursement of burial expenses.When considering
burial in a private cemetery, it's important to ask some questions
before making a commitment:
* If a "free" gravesite for the veteran
is offered, ask if an additional gravesite must be purchased to
qualify. If it is required, where is it located and what is the
cost?
* Are there any restrictions on the type of headstone
or marker? If a free government marker will be used, is there any
charge for a special base, placement and setting or care of a free
marker?
* Is a vault or grave liner required?
Before arranging for a burial in a private cemetery,
know what you are receiving, what is required by the company and
have the company put all this information in writing.
It's wise to gather data relating to the veteran's
service (Military Discharge Certificate or Report of Separation,
VA Claim Number and Social Security Number), as well as birth certificate
and marriage history, and keep them together in a safe place that
family members know about. Your local County Veterans Service Agency
and your family funeral director will give you information about
what you will need to arrange an eligible veteran's burial and how
to claim any benefits that may be available to the veteran's spouse
and dependents.
For more information on veterans death benefits,
call a VA Benefits Counselor at: 1-800-827-1000 or visit the VA
website: http://www.va.gov./.
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