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May 2003
When
a Veteran Dies
"To
care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow
and orphan" -Abraham Lincoln.
In
May, Memorial Day is a national holiday which gives us time to honor
those who have fought and died to protect our freedom and our way
of life. We thought this would be an opportune time to remind
veterans and their families of the survivor benefits that may be
available to them.
In
New York State, the County Veterans Service Agencies, in cooperation
with the Veterans Administration, provide guides for the veteran's
family that will help them maintain the necessary records and how
to claim any veterans benefits that may be applicable. If your
county has such an agency, they will be listed in the local telephone
directory.
Here
are some of their suggestions:
1. When
arranging the veteran's funeral, furnish the funeral director with
a copy of the veteran's Military
Discharge Certificate or Report of Separation (DD Form 214),
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Claim
Number (if known) and the veteran's Social Security number.
2. The funeral
director will assist the veteran's family in securing any Veterans
Administration burial
benefits, and will also handle arrangements for burial
in a national cemetery.
3. Ask the
funeral director to apply for the United States flag to drape the
casket through the local
postmaster using the Veteran's Discharge (DD Form 214).
4. If the
deceased veteran was a member of a veterans organization such as
the VFW, the Post
Commander should be contacted for any ritual service and
casket bearers. The Post Commander
should also be informed if the family wishes to have the
flag presented to the next-of-kin during the
gravesite service. The funeral director may also contact
an area military post to request a contingent for
pallbearer and honor guard duty.
5. Veterans
Administration benefits which may be available include:
a. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
(DIC) for spouse or dependent children;
b. Pension for spouse or dependent
children;
c. Burial benefits:
1.
Burial benefit for veterans receiving compensation or pension, or
who die in a VA Medical Center;
2.
Burial allowance for honorably discharged indigent veterans who
die as a result of a service
connected disability or whose remains are unclaimed;
3.
Burial plot allowance or grave for the veteran, spouse and dependent
children (where applicable);
4.
Headstone, grave markers or niche markers.
d. National Service VA life insurance
claims.
6. Important
documents (originals or certified copies) to have available when
applying for assistance:
a. Honorable Discharge from the Armed Forces
or Report of Military Separation (DD Form 214);
b. Record of marriage;
c. Birth certificates of dependent children;
d. Death certificate for the veteran and
any previous spouse;
e. Veteran's Social Security number and
VA claim number;
f. Divorce papers (if applicable);
g. Adoption papers for dependent children
(if applicable);
h. Annual family income figures.
(Some
of these documents may also be required when filing a survivor's
claim with Social Security.)
A
death certificate is always required when applying for any insurance
benefits. A local county veterans service officer may offer assistance
in supplying and completing forms for G.I. Insurance. Some veterans
organizations provide insurance on an individual basis: American
Legion Life Insurance (1-800-542-5547) and VFW Insurance Dept.
(1-800-821-2606).
Veterans
and their families should keep all the above-mentioned documents
together so that they will be readily accessible to survivors.
Your
family funeral director can also answer any questions or concerns
you may have when a veteran dies. He or she can help you plan
those special rituals that provide the respect that every deceased
veteran deserves.
Another
helpful resource is the Veterans Administration's Website: www.va.gov
.
(Research
material provided by Robert Mitchell, Director, Saratoga County
Veterans Service Agency.)
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