BENEFITS FILING & ASSISTANCE
At the Warriors Remembrance Foundation, we understand that death and burial entitlements for Veterans are often underutilized, with only a quarter of families filing for these benefits each year. Many families are unaware of their eligibility or unsure of how to apply for them. Despite efforts by the National Cemetery Administration through public service campaigns, the gap between awareness and action persists.
We aim to bridge this gap by offering free services to the families of deceased Veterans, helping them file for and receive death and burial benefits. Our expertise in this area ensures families can navigate the process with ease. Additionally, we offer a referral program through the Texas Veterans Commission to assist living Veterans with disability and medical benefits.
What benefits might you be entitled to? While eligibility varies, a broad range of death and burial entitlements are available. Some benefits never expire, but others must be claimed within 24 months of the Veteran’s death. All claims can be filed electronically, by mail, or by fax, and we are here to guide you through every step to ensure your loved one receives a proper, dignified send-off and that eligible families secure the benefits they deserve.
If you need assistance or are unsure of your eligibility, we offer free phone, virtual, or in-person consultations. Let us help you honor your loved one’s service and ensure they receive their rightful benefits.
Presidential Memorial Certificate
Burial Flag
Military Funeral Honors
PRESIDENTIAL MEMORIAL CERTIFICATE (PMC) is an engraved paper certificate signed by the current president. You may be eligible for a Presidential Memorial Certificate if you meet both of these requirements. The Veteran or Reservist is eligible for burial in a national cemetery, and You’re the next of kin, family member, or close friend of the Veteran or Reservist (or an authorized service representative for a family member or friend of the Veteran or Reservist). You can request more than one PMC depending on your families needs however it must be annotated on either on the VA Form VA40-0247 or the VA Form 40-1330 when ordering a government headstone or marker. To learn more about this benefit, require assistance filing, or would like to apply on line please schedule an appointment using the “Schedule Appointment” link at the top of this webpage.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BURIAL FLAG is provided to drape on a casket (or coffin) or place with an urn in honor of the military service of a Veteran or Reservist. You may be eligible for a burial flag if you’re the next of kin or a close friend of the Veteran or Reservist and one of these descriptions are true for that person. They served in wartime, or They died while serving on active duty after May 27, 1941, or They served after January 31, 1955, or They served in peacetime and left military service before June 27, 1950, after serving at least 1 enlistment, or because of a disability that was caused—or made worse—by their active military service, or They served in the Selected Reserves (in certain cases), or served in the military forces of the Philippines while in service of the United States and died on or after April 25, 1951. Flags can be ordered using the VA Form VA27-2008 , applications can also be submitted by funeral director, Veteran Service Officer, or can be submitted to a local United States Post Office (call ahead to ensure your post office has burial flags, if not they can direct you to the nearest one). To learn more about this benefit, require assistance filing, or would like to apply on line please schedule an appointment using the “Schedule Appointment” link at the top of this webpage.
MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS PROGRAM is overseen by the Department of Defense (DOD) which establishes procedures for requesting and rendering military funeral honors. By law, an honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible veteran shall consist of at least two members of the armed forces. One member of the detail shall be a representative of the veteran's service branch. The honor detail will, at a minimum, perform a ceremony that includes the playing of Taps and the folding and presentation of the American flag to the next of kin. Taps will be played by a bugler, if available, or by a ceremonial bugle. The DOD program calls for funeral home directors to request military funeral honors on behalf of the Veteran's family. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration cemetery staff can also assist with arranging military funeral honors at VA national cemeteries. VA suggests that you contact DOD a minimum of 48 to 72 hours prior to a scheduled service to make arrangements for military funeral honors. Veterans Service Organizations (VSO) and Authorized Provider Partnership Programs may also assist in providing military funeral honors, such as detail elements for funeral honors to include rifle detail, pallbearers or escort services. The DOD began the implementation plan for providing military funeral honors for eligible Veterans on January 1, 2000. Upon the family's request, Public Law 106-65 requires that every eligible Veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony. To learn more about this benefit, require assistance filing, or would like to apply on line please schedule an appointment using the “Schedule Appointment” link at the top of this webpage.
Veteran Burial Allowance
&
Transportation Benefits
ELIGIBILITY: Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) may grant a claim for Veteran Burial and Transportation Allowance for an eligible person whom files upon the death of the veteran, DVA will pay the first living person to file a claim of those listed below:
The veteran's surviving spouse; or The survivor of a legal union between the deceased veteran and the survivor; or The veteran's children, regardless of age (biological, step and adopted); or The veteran's parents or the surviving parent; or The executor or administrator of the deceased veteran's estate, or person acting for the deceased veteran's estate (a person is considered acting for the estate when no executor or administrator has been appointed). For DVA purposes, legal union means a formal relationship between the veteran and the survivor that existed on the date of the veteran's death, was recognized under the law of the State in which the couple formalized to relationship and was evidenced by the State's issuance of documentation memorializing the relationship. NOTE: If the veteran's remains are unclaimed, DVA may pay the person or entity that provided burial services for the remains of an unclaimed veteran. NOTE: Claimant Social Security Number and date of birth are not required when claiming unclaimed remains, or if the claimant is a firm, corporation, or state agency.
TIME LIMIT FOR FILING A CLAIM: Claim for non-service-connected burial allowance must be filed with VA within 2 years after the date of the veteran's permanent burial or cremation. If a veteran's discharge was corrected after death to "Under Conditions Other Than Dishonorable," the claim must be filed within 2 years after the date of correction. There is no time limit for the service-connected burial allowance, plot or interment allowance, non service-connected burial allowance based upon DVA hospitalization death, or reimbursement of transportation expenses. BURIAL ALLOWANCE: A one-time benefit payment payable toward the expenses of the funeral and burial of the veteran's remains. Burial includes all legal methods of disposing of the veteran's remains including, but not limited to, cremation, burial at sea and medical school donation.
PLOT OR INTERMENT ALLOWANCE: A one-time benefit payment payable toward: (1) Expenses incurred for the plot or interment of a Veteran who was eligible for burial in a national cemetery if the actual burial was not in a national cemetery under the jurisdiction of the United States and non-service-connected burial allowance is granted; or (2) Expenses are payable if non-service-connected burial allowance is granted and veteran was buried in a State-owned cemetery or sub-section used solely for the remains of such persons or other individuals as authorized within 38 U.S.C. 2303(b)(1) and meets eligibility for burial in a national cemetery. "Plot" means the final disposition site of the remains, whether it is a grave, mausoleum vault, columbarium niche, or similar place. "Interment" means the burial of casketed remains in the ground or the placement of cremated remains into a columbarium niche.
TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENT: When transportation reimbursement is allowable, DVA may pay for expenses relating to the transportation of the veteran's remains. This includes the pickup and the transportation of the veteran's remains to their final resting place. Claims for transportation reimbursement benefits must include a statement of account showing itemized transportation charges. DVA may pay transportation reimbursement only when one of the following eligibility requirements are met: DVA hospitalization death; or the veteran was in receipt of disability compensation at the time of death; or the veteran was in receipt of military retirement in lieu of disability compensation at the time of death; or the veteran was in receipt of pension at the time of death; or the veteran's remains are unclaimed; or Service-connected burial allowance granted and burial was in a national or covered Veteran's cemetery. NOTE: a covered Veterans' cemetery is defined as a Veterans' cemetery in which a deceased veteran is eligible to be buried that is owned by a State or is on trust land owned by, or held in trust for, a tribal organization, and for which the Secretary has made a grant under 38 U.S.C. 2408.
PROOF OF DEATH TO ACCOMPANY CLAIM: Death in a government institution does not need to be proven. In other cases, the claimant must forward a copy of the public record of death. If the proof of death has previously been furnished to DVA, it does not need to be submitted again. Claims for service-connected burial allowance must include the veteran's cause of death.
RESPONSIBLE FOR (LEGALLY INCURRED) EXPENSES: The claimant has already paid or owe the burial expenses for the benefit being claimed and is legally the responsible party for the debt. If filing as an executor of the veteran's estate, you must certify that the veteran paid the burial prior to his or her death or funds from the estate were used as payment.
SERVICE RECORD: A photocopy of the veteran's DD Form 214, Report of Separation (or equivalent) for all periods of military service will permit prompt processing. You may request a copy of the DD Form 214 through the National Archives' National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) using SF 180 (09/2021 version), Request Pertaining to Military Records, (available at https://www.archives.gov/) NOTE: Service documents sent in to the DVA as part of the application will not be returned. Do not send original copies.
This is a difficult time for loved ones, and many place significant trust in third-party entities like funeral homes or directors to file claims on their behalf. However, the veteran death and burial allowance is one of the most underutilized benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), often due to a lack of knowledge or understanding of the claims process.
We strongly encourage you to contact Warriors Remembrance Foundation or another Veterans Service Organization (VSO), such as the Texas Veterans Commission, to schedule an appointment and ensure all available benefits are properly applied for and submitted.
If you choose to continue working with a third party, we recommend visiting the DVA website at Veterans Burial Allowance and Transportation Benefits to familiarize yourself with veterans’ benefits.