Burial Benefits for Nebraska Veterans

By Genevieve Babychz

Losing a loved one is always difficult, but having the knowledge of benefits and burial sites before this event occurs can make the transition easier. Veterans receive a burial allotment from the Veterans Administration, and places like Nebraska offer veterans a few more options to ensure that their service is recognized after death.

Nebraska keeps a registry of everyone who served in the U.S. military during a time of war. In order for a veteran to appear on this registry, his or her remains must be buried in Nebraska.

Nebraska has two veterans cemeteries. The Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Alliance is a VA grant-funded endeavor. The state Legislature approved it in 2006. Groundbreaking took place in 2008, and steady construction has progressed to make this a suitable state veterans cemetery. The other state cemetery is the Nebraska Veterans Home Cemetery in Grand Island. For someone to be eligible to be buried in these plots he must have died in active duty, be a veteran, and have met Nebraska residency requirements. Burial in a veterans cemetery is not free, but with the burial benefits many veterans receive the cost is minimal. Veterans' families and dependents are also eligible to be buried with them in these cemeteries. These state cemeteries are different from the national cemeteries, and they are considered a benefit because they cater to veterans.

Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Alliance

2610 County Road 57

Alliance, Nebraska 69301

Allen Pannell, Cemetery Administrator

308-763-8426

Nebraska Veterans Home Cemetery

Burkett Station

2300 W. Capital Ave.

Grand Island, Nebraska 68803

Ginada Hostetler

308-385-6252, Ext. 230

Many counties in Nebraska put a flag holder on a veteran's grave. Requirements may vary by county, but the basic requirement is that the deceased be a veteran. In Cass County, the veteran only needs to be buried there. Some areas may require a pre-death residency requirement. The veteran or family member need to contact their local veterans advocate. This information can be found on the State of Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs web page, under County Service Officers, or by contacting the state office.

Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs

PO Box 95083

301 Centennial Mall South, 6th Floor

Lincoln, NE 68509-5083

402-471-2458

vets.state.ne.us

Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs

State Service Office

5631 S. 48 St.

Lincoln, NE 68516-4103

402-420-4021

vets.state.ne.us

Veterans may elect to be buried in a national cemetery, and there 131 of these. Two of them are in Nebraska, Fort Lawn Cemetery Soldiers Lot and Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Coverage of the burial benefit is administered by the National Cemetery Administration. The VA benefit covers opening and closing the grave, maintenance of the site, a government headstone, a burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Cremated remains can be buried at national cemeteries, and they receive the same honors. Spouses and dependents can be buried with the veteran; their names and dates of birth and death are inscribed on the headstone and care for their graves is covered. Veterans buried at private cemeteries receive a grave marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. No benefits are provided to family members at private cemeteries. These benefits are provided at no cost to the family in national or private cemeteries, but additional costs like placing remains in the grave are the responsibility of the family.

Some veterans may also be eligible for burial allowances. These benefits are in two payments when the death is not service-related. The payments are burial and funeral expenses, and plot or interment expenses. Families of veterans who paid for a funeral and were not reimbursed by another federal or private agency (and the veteran received an other than dishonorable discharge) are eligible. Additionally, the veteran must meet one of the following: died from a service-related condition, received a VA pension or compensation at time of death, could have received the pension but opted not to, died in a VA hospital or under VA care, died while traveling to or from an authorized VA visit, or died on or after Oct. 9, 1996, in a VA nursing home. For service-related deaths VA awards the veteran's family up to $2,000 for death on or after Sept. 11, 2001, and it pays up to $1,500 for those who passed prior to Sept. 10, 2001. For veterans buried in national cemeteries, all or part of the cost of transportation may be reimbursed. Veterans who die from non-service related death can receive up to $300 toward burial and funeral expenses, with another $300 for an interment allowance if the death occurred before Dec. 1, 2001. The interment allowance for deaths prior to Dec. 1, 2001 is $150. The burial allowance is the same if the veteran died before or after Dec. 1, 2001. If the veteran died while at a VA hospital or nursing home, some or all of the transportation costs can be recovered.

Department of Veterans Affairs

800-827-1000

va.gov

http://www.lenderva.com