VA Will Pay for Your Spouse’s Funeral — But Only If You Know This One Rule

Losing your partner especially someone who proudly served this country is one of the hardest things life can throw at you On top of the grief there s often a whirlwind of decisions to make and figuring out what kind of help you can get from the VA shouldn t add more stress So let s talk about something several surviving spouses wonder Do I have to file paperwork to get help with funeral or burial costs Here s the honest straightforward answer If you re already listed as your spouse s surviving partner in the VA system the money might come automatically No forms No stress Just help right when you need it Here s What the VA Typically Covers When a Veteran passes away the VA can step in to help cover various of the costs it s called a burial allowance and it s their way of honoring the operation your loved one gave Depending on the situation If your partner s death was connected to their operation the VA can cover up to If the death wasn t service-related they ll still help out Around to help with the funeral itself Another for the burial plot if you re not using a VA cemetery If your loved one is buried in a VA national cemetery there s no cost for the plot the grave opening or the headstone The VA handles it So Do You Need to File a Claim In a multitude of cases you don t need to do anything If the VA already knows you re the spouse they ll take care of it once they re notified about the death But and this is key if they don t have you listed correctly or if someone else paid the funeral bill like another family member or a funeral home you might need to file a claim to get reimbursed That means filling out a form called VA Form P- EZ and sending in particular documents like the death certificate discharge papers and funeral receipts It s not super complicated but it s helpful to know when it s needed What Else Can You Get There s more than just financial help A free headstone or grave marker A Presidential Memorial Certificate to honor their amenity Bereavement counseling if you need it And burial in a VA cemetery with full honors and no out-of-pocket cost If you re the surviving spouse you might not need to do anything at all to get burial help The VA has tried to make this easier so families aren t stuck dealing with forms when they re grieving But if you re not sure or if something feels unclear don t hesitate to reach out The VA s number is - - and there are lots of organizations that can walk you through it step-by-step at no cost You re not alone in this And your loved one s amenity won t be forgotten