Veterans Benefits
Military personnel or honorably discharged veterans are entitled to benefits. The following benefits may be available:
- Death pension to the widow and minor children
- Reimbursement of part of the funeral expense to a funeral home or person who paid the bill
- Burial in National cemeteries
- Burial flag and grave markers
Wartime Veterans and their surviving spouses age 65 or older with limited income and assets may qualify for a pension. For qualifying Veterans without a spouse, the 2016 Maximum Annual Pension rate was $12,907 and $16,902 with a spouse. For Veterans qualifying for Aid and Attendance benefit (see below), the maximum amount in 2016 was as high as $25,525. The 2016 survivor maximum pension rates started at $8,656 for the standard pension and $13,836 for the Aid and Attendance amount.
Veterans and their survivors requiring assisted living, are housebound or living in a nursing home may also qualify for a little know Aid and Attendance benefit in addition to a pension.
To qualify for Aid and Attendance, there are asset and income limits just like the pension requirements as well as physical need requirements.
Documents required for claiming veterans benefits are:
- Itemized receipted funeral bill
- Veteran’s discharged papers (Form DD-214)
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Birth certificates of minor children
Further documentation will be needed if filing for Veterans pension or Survivor’s pension.
