By Joseph J. Hannagan Jr.
Many benefits are available to the survivors of our veterans. Many of these benefits come through the U.S. Veterans Administration and can be secured through talking with the funeral director handling the later veterans’ service or the local Veterans Affairs Office.
Burial: Reimbursement of burial expenses a burial allowance may be paid to offset expenses of the veteran’s funeral and burial. This allowance is paid to both service-connected deaths of veterans and non-service connected deaths.
Plot Allowance: If the veteran is not buried in a national, state or county veterans cemetery, a burial plot allowance may be payable to the veteran’s spouse.
Headstone or Marker: The Veterans Administration will provide a headstone or marker for veterans buried in any cemetery worldwide.
Memorial Flag: This is presented to the next of kin at the veterans’ death.
Honor Guard: An honor guard will be provided by the branch of service , to play “Taps” and present the memorial flag to the next of kin this is available no matter what cemetery the veteran is interred in just tell your funeral home director that you require a Veterans’ Funeral and provide him with the veteran’s discharge papers (DD214).
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation This is a benefit paid to the unmarried spouse and dependent children of service members who died during active service or died as a result of injuries attributed to the military.
Parents Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: Paid to the parents of veterans who die in service or as a result of a service connected disability.
Death Pension: Is paid to the unmarried spouse and dependent children of wartime veterans whose death is service connected must meet qualifying income limits.
Aid & Attendance/Housebound: Can be paid to the DIC & Pension recipients that require assistance at home that require regular help with eating, bathing, dressing etc. again this will be based on qualifying income limits.
Education: Dependents educational assistance program provides education benefits’ to unmarried surviving spouse and dependent children there is a time limit of 10 years for the spouse and only available to children between ages 18 to 26 years.
Health Care: The Civilian Health & Medical Programs (CHAMPVA) provides coverage for unmarried spouse and children of a veterans’ who died on active duty or is permanently 100 percent disabled as a result of service connected disabilities.
Home Loan Guarantee: The unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran is death was service connected is generally eligible for this program to purchase a home or refinance of an existing home.
For more information specific to the survivors’ benefits please go to www.va.gov or call the Salem County Veterans Affairs Office at 856-339-8603.
Joseph J. Hannagan Jr. is Salem County’s Veterans Affairs Officer. He can be reached at 856-339-8603, via email at Joseph.Hannagan@salemcountynj.gov, or by cell phone at 609-774-7450.
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