A Guide to the Benefits Available to Veterans in New Jersey

Military veterans get several benefits from the Department of Veteran Affairs. The department has a dedicated program to handle death benefits like a funeral, burial, and memorial expenses. At Ocean County Cremation Service, we can help arrange the funeral and offer advice on how to get those benefits for a loved one. Here’s a brief guide on how to get those benefits in New Jersey:

Main Benefits

The Department of Veteran Affairs will cover four main benefits that depend on whether the veteran had a service-related death or not. Here’s a look at the benefits available:

• Burial allowances
• Burial in one of the national cemeteries
• Plot or interment benefits
• Headstone, medallion or grave marker expenses

Before 2014, the VA offered reimbursement instead of direct payment, which means family members had to pay out of the pocket and then provide receipts to the department for reimbursement. That was a challenge for many families in difficult financial circumstances.

The rules have changed and VA now pays eligible surviving spouses or family members automatically, which can help reduce the financial burden.

Benefit Details

If the veteran has a service-related death, VA will provide up to $2,000 for funeral and burial expenses. If your loved one is approved to be buried in one of the national cemeteries, VA may cover full or partial costs of transporting the body as well.

If the veteran has a non-service related death, you can get $796 for burial and funeral expenses for people who weren’t hospitalized by the VA at the time of death. You will get $300 for burial and funeral expenses as well as $796 in plot-internment allowances.

The department has strict eligibility criteria so it is a good idea to contact it or browse through its website to see if you're eligible.

If you want to know more or want to arrange for a service, contact us at Ocean County Cremation Service today. We’ll be happy to help.