Many veterans and their loved ones believe that funeral services are free for veterans. While the Veteran’s Administration does provide a wide variety of funeral-related services for free, there are still costs involved.
Here’s what you need to know…
What services can all eligible veterans receive for free?
Upon their death, anyone who served in any branch of the U.S. military and has the papers to prove they received anything other than a dishonorable discharge can receive the following from the Veteran’s Administration:
- Gravesite or vault and burial or internment at one of the 134 national cemeteries that has available space, plus perpetual care of the grave and a headstone or marker in a standard size and style
- U.S. flag for use as a burial flag to drape over the casket or accompany the urn
- Military honors at the funeral or service that includes two or more uniformed members of the military folding and presenting the burial flag and playing Taps
- Presidential Memorial Certificate for the loved ones to keep
In addition, burial benefits are also available for spouses and dependents. This includes burial in a national cemetery with the veteran, perpetual care of the grave, and the addition of the spouse or dependents’ name and dates of birth and death on the veteran’s headstone.
What services can some veterans receive for free?
If the veteran’s death occurs in a federal VA hospital, or if the veteran was receiving a VA pension at the time of death, the family may be able to receive some money to help pay for the burial expenses.
What funeral-related services are not provided for free to veterans?
For those veterans who are buried or interned at a national cemetery, the costs for the following services are not included:
- Securing and recording the death certificate
- Preparing and filing necessary notices and forms
- Mortuary services, including preparing the body for burial, and embalming if it is required or desired
- Transportation of the remains from the place of death to the mortuary, and from the mortuary to the cemetery or crematory
- Caskets or urns
- Cremation
- Shrouds or other clothing for the deceased
- Clergy or other officiant for the funeral service
- Flowers
- Musicians
- Motorcycle escorts
These services are not provided by the Veteran’s Administration. Any service obtained from a funeral home or cremation office is not paid for or reimbursed by the Veteran’s Administration.
What if the deceased did not wish to be buried or interned at a national cemetery?
A veteran can be buried at any cemetery they or their family chooses—but not for free. While the Veteran’s Administration provides free burial or internment at a national cemetery, including the plot or space for the casket or urn, they do not pay these costs for burial or internment at any other location.
How can Olive Tree Mortuary help?
Olive Tree Mortuary has extensive experience planning military services and helping families obtain the veteran’s services to which they are entitled. Please call us at your time of need. We serve families from throughout Southern California and are available 24/7, 365 days a year, at 714-739-1961.