Government Grants: Final Expense Insurance & Funeral Expenses

Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Program Description

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) burial allowance is flat rate monetary benefit that is generally paid at a maximum amount authorized by law for an eligible Veteran’s burial and funeral costs. VA may grant additional benefits for plot, interment, and/or transportation expenses.

General Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Program Requirements

VA automatically pays a burial benefit to the eligible surviving spouse of record. If no surviving spouse of record, VA will pay the first living person to file a claim of those listed below:

• Veteran’s surviving spouse; or
• The survivor of a legal union* between the deceased Veteran and the survivor; OR
• Veteran’s child(ren); OR
• Veteran’s parents or surviving parent; OR
• Executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased Veteran. If no executor or administrator has been appointed, VA may pay burial benefits based on a claim filed by a person acting for such estate who will distribute the burial benefits to the person or persons entitled to such distribution under the laws of the Veteran’s last State of residence.

*Legal union means a formal relationship between the decedent and the survivor that existed on the date of the Veteran’s death, which was recognized under the law of the State in which the couple formalized the relationship and evidenced by the State’s issuance of documentation memorializing the relationship.

Other individuals and entities, such as funeral homes, are eligible claimants only if the Veterans remains are unclaimed.

Generally, to be eligible for burial benefits, at least one of the following additional eligibility criteria must be met:

• The Veteran died as a result of a service-related disability, OR
• The Veteran was receiving or entitled to receive VA pension or compensation at the time of death, OR
• The Veteran died while hospitalized in a VA medical facility, or while receiving care under a VA contract at a non-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 had an original or re-opened claim pending at the time of death and would have been entitle to VA compensation or pension from a date prior to the date of death, OR
• The Veteran died on or after October 9, 1996, while a patient at a VA-approved state nursing home.

Read more about the VA burial allowance program.

Grant Program Highlights – Veterans Cemetery Grants Program

Grants.gov offers additional information on the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Cemetery Grants Program was established in 1978 to complement VA’s National Cemetery Administration. The program assists states, territories and federally-recognized tribal governments in providing gravesites for Veterans in those areas where VA’s national cemeteries cannot fully satisfy their burial needs. Grants may be used only for the purpose of establishing, expanding or improving Veterans cemeteries that are owned and operated by a state, federally-recognized tribal government, or U.S. territory. Aid can be granted only to states, federally-recognized tribal governments, or U.S. territories

Scroll, if necessary to see the “Request My Quote” submission button.

Final Expense insurance (aka funeral insurance) is a basic issue life insurance policy that covers people until they reach 100 years old. Final Expense insurance (also known as funeral insurance) is promoted as a way to pay in advance for your funeral expenses so that your loved ones won’t have to pay for your funeral. There are many things you can do to make your death easier on the wallets of those you love. Preplanning your funeral saves money and grief, as well as deciding whether you want to be buried in a casket or cremated and put into and urn, figuring out who gets what part of your estate and all the related turmoil associated with the end of life.