Funeral Expense Compensation

Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation out there regarding the VA paying for funeral expenses. Many people believe that the VA will pay for all final expenses, but only eligible veterans can receive compensation, and the dollar amount granted typically only covers a small portion of the total expenses.  

In order to be eligible for compensation towards burial and funeral expenses, a veteran must meet specific criteria. A few examples include, a veteran who was receiving a VA pension, or died in a VA hospital, or died of a service-related injury. For a complete list of eligibility requirements, you can check the link below, but the best way to determine eligibility for benefits is to contact your county’s Veterans Service officer.

Your funeral director will make the initial contact with the Veterans Services Office in the county where the deceased passed away, but once you receive completed death certificates, you should contact them as well to go over any benefits available. 

Veterans Funeral and Burial Expense Compensation