Loss of a Veteran

Losing a veteran is hard, and there’s a lot to handle at once. This free step-by-step guide walks families through the first days, burial in a VA national, state or private cemetery, military funeral honors, headstones, flags and memorial certificates, and who to notify. It covers the burial allowance (up to $1,032 for burial and $1,032 for a plot for deaths on or after October 1, 2026), the month-of-death payment, accrued benefits, and how a survivor can take over a pending claim. It also explains DIC, Survivors Pension, the Survivor Benefit Plan, Social Security, remarriage rules, CHAMPVA and TRICARE, education and home loan benefits, and the 1-year deadlines that matter most. Download the free Loss of a Veteran Guide PDF for a printable survivor checklist, key phone numbers, a deadline worksheet, a document tracker and a contact log. Keep it with the veteran’s papers.