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VA national cemeteries now offering pre-need burial eligibility determinations

San Diego CA – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that it now provides eligibility determinations for burial in a VA national cemetery prior to the time of need. Pre-need eligibility determinations will streamline access to burial benefits that veterans have earned through military service for themselves and their eligible family members. Pre-need eligibility determinations will help veterans and their families with pre-need burial planning.

“A pre-need burial eligibility determination will confirm an individual’s eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery prior to the time of need” said Miramar National Cemetery Director Rex Kern. “I encourage veterans and their spouses to take advantage of the new program so they have peace of mind and can address burial plans ahead of time.”

Interested individuals may submit VA Form 40-10007, Application for Pre-Need Determination of Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery, and supporting documentation, such as a DD Form 214, if readily available, to the VA National Cemetery Scheduling Office by: toll-free fax at 1-855-840-8299; email to [email protected]; or mail to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office, P.O. Box 510543, St. Louis, MO 63151.

VA will review applications and provide written notice of its determination of eligibility. VA will save determinations and supporting documentation in an electronic information system to expedite burial arrangements at the time of need. Because laws and personal circumstances change, upon receipt of a burial request, VA will validate all pre-need determinations in accordance with the laws in effect at that time.

VA operates 135 national cemeteries and 33 soldiers’ lots in 40 states and Puerto Rico. More than 4 million Americans, including veterans of every war and conflict, are buried in VA’s national cemeteries. VA also provides funding to establish, expand and maintain 105 veterans cemeteries in 47 states and territories including tribal trust lands, Guam, and Saipan.

For veterans buried in private or other cemeteries, VA provides headstones, markers or medallions to commemorate their service. In 2016, VA honored more than 345,000 veterans and their loved ones with memorial benefits in national, state, tribal and private cemeteries.

Eligible individuals are entitled to burial in any open VA national cemetery, opening/closing of the grave, a grave liner, perpetual care of the gravesite, and a government-furnished headstone or marker or niche cover, all at no cost to the family. Veterans are also eligible for a burial flag and may be eligible for a Presidential Memorial Certificate.

Information on VA burial benefits is available from local VA national cemetery offices, from the Internet at www.cem.va.gov, or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at (800) 827-1000. To make burial arrangements at any open VA national cemetery at the time of need, call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at (800) 535-1117.

 

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