Ways Families Can Honor Veterans on Veterans Day

Veterans dedicate their lives to serving our country and protecting our freedom. We all want to provide these brave men and women who take selflessly sacrificed and then much of themselves for not just their families, but the nation as a whole, a concluding sendoff as distinguished every bit they are.

There are many misconceptions almost the veterans burial and cremation services benefits and assistance available to the families of veterans for final arrangements. This guide aims to help clear up the confusion. Whether you're a family member in the process of planning final arrangements for a veteran loved 1 or an finish-of-life planner who aids families in making such arrangements, you will find this guide useful.

With the cremation rate in the United States rising steadily, this guide will focus on cremation equally an option, along with other traditional methods, and what benefits and assistance options are bachelor to veterans and their families. As funeral costs proceed to ascent, both funeral planners serving veterans and families of veterans must arm themselves with knowledge of available veterans burying and cremation services and benefits to help families manage the rising costs of making final arrangements for a loved i.

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What you'll notice in this guide:

• A Look Ahead: Funeral Service Industry Outlook
• VA Burial Pre-Death Planning Information for Veterans
• Veterans Burying and Cremation Benefits
• How to Admission VA Burial Benefits
• Other Fiscal Help for VA Burial for Veterans and Families
• Helpful Resource on Veterans Burial and Cremation Services Benefits for Funeral Planners and Directors

A Wait Alee: Funeral Service Industry Outlook

The following resource provide statistics and information on the outlook of the funeral service industry every bit a whole over the next several years.

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Cremation is on the rise. Over the next eighteen years, the rate of cremation in the United States is projected to increment by near 30 pct, according to the 2018 Cremation and Burial Study, released by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). Already having outpaced the rate of burial for three consecutive years, the national cremation charge per unit will reach nearly eighty percent (or two.80 million cremations per year) by 2035, based on a multifariousness of factors including irresolute consumer preference, weakening religious prohibitions and environmental concerns.

Betwixt 1998 and 2013, cremation experienced a growth rate of v.half dozen percent, and betwixt 2003 and 2008, the growth rate (representing the increase in the number of people choosing cremation for themselves or a loved 1) was 6.3 percent. Compared to the growth rate betwixt 2008 and 2013 (nine.iii%), these statistics show a clear rise in the prevalence of cremation in recent years.

According to the 2019 NFDA Cremation & Burial Report, the 2019 cremation charge per unit is 54.8% and burial charge per unit is 39%. Equally the cost of traditional burial and funeral arrangements continues to ascension, more families look to cremation as a more affordable alternative.

Cremation is more than prevalent in some areas of the U.Due south., such as the Midwest; Nevada, Oregon, and Washington have cremation rates of 73 per centum or higher. The Due south tends to take lower cremation rates, with states such as Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, and Louisiana having cremation rates of less than 25 percent.

Cost and environmental issues are master drivers of the increase in cremation rates. An October 2014 written report from the National Funeral Directors Clan notes that the rate of cremation is expected to bypass burial by the end of 2015. "The rise in consumer preference for cremation is due to a number of factors, including price, decreased household discretionary income, ecology concerns, fewer religious prohibitions of the practise, a growing preference for simpler, and less ritualized funeral ceremonies," the study explains. And choosing cremation doesn't mean foregoing whatsoever type of memorial service or traditional funeral ceremony. Co-ordinate to the NFDA's report, "More than 58 percent of consumers associate cremation with a memorial service; simply over 15 percent of consumers associate a traditional funeral ceremony prior to cremation."

Pre-Death Planning Information for Veterans

The decision between cremation and a traditional burial is a highly personal selection. Equally more adults are not formally affiliated with a religious denomination, cremation is condign increasingly popular. Shifting attitudes regarding death and increased preferences for simpler, less-ritualized funeral services are besides contributing factors. The following resources offering helpful information for veterans and their families for pre-decease planning on veterans burial and cremation services, likewise as information on choosing the right service providers.

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Families considering cremation as an pick should choose a house carefully. This resource from the Cremation Association of Northward America provides a helpful checklist including important questions to ask and other steps to take when choosing a business firm, such every bit consulting with your clergy and avoiding selecting a firm based solely on price.

Preplanning is a valuable souvenir that veterans can give to their families, simply information technology'south of import to accept all the proper documents prepared and stored where they can easily be found following passing . Neptune Lodge'southward Service Manager, Jessica Watts, notes, "Preplanning is always the best gift anyone can requite to their family unit. It eliminates the overwhelming financial brunt and honors the decedent's wishes. When assisting a veteran and their family it is extremely important to have all the proper documentation. Many families struggle to locate the Military Discharge form DD214 at the time of death, and then having this course in an easily located file at the veteran'due south dwelling house or within the preplanning documents is a great help not merely to the family unit but besides for the funeral director who will be assisting with the VA documents and scheduling."

The American Bar Clan recommends pre-death planning every bit a way for veterans and other individuals to express their wishes regarding their last arrangements , also as to remove some of the burden from their families during the grieving process. "You tin make your survivors' job easier by leaving a letter containing burial instructions and your other terminal wishes in a place where your family can detect it," the study explains. The American Bar Clan likewise notes that with funeral costs on the rise, some families experience pressure to spend more than what they can beget on services to demonstrate their beloved for their loved one who has passed. "To protect your estate and survivors from this sort of force per unit area, ready a limit on funeral expenses, and arrange the service while you lot're alive (through a funeral home) with the help of someone you trust, like your spouse, executor, or religious leader," the American Bar Association suggests.

Some companies offer preplanning services and may offer discounts for veterans . Ms. Watts explains, "At Neptune Social club, we offer prearrangement services in which the individual or family unit can make cremation plans and payment in accelerate of the decease occurring. In that location is also a veteran discount given to the veteran and his/her spouse at the time of prearranging.  At the time of expiry, we assist the family with completing the VA burial benefit forms, flag application, and memorial certificate awarding. If the family chooses to have their loved one placed into a national cemetery, nosotros assist with the burying scheduling procedure and honors request. We accept, at times, referred the family to a local VA specialist who can aid them with additional information on VA burial benefits and services available to the surviving spouse."

Veterans Burial and Cremation Benefits

The following resources provide information on VA burying benefits and assistance provided to veterans and their families for cremation and burial services. Additionally, specific information is provided on contacting the right organizations to determine eligibility for veterans burial and cremation services and to schedule a burial if your loved one has chosen a national cemetery every bit his or her final resting place.

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The National Cemetery Administration, part of the U.S. Section of Veterans Affairs, provides burial benefits for veterans.  According to the website, "Burial benefits available include a gravesite in any of our 131 national cemeteries with available space, opening and endmost of the grave, perpetual intendance, aGovernment headstone or marker , a burial flag, and aPresidential Memorial Certificate, at no cost to the family unit." Note that infinite in a national cemetery may not be reserved in accelerate.

There are no VA burial benefits available for spouses or family members of veterans for burial, but veterans who will be buried in a private cemetery (every bit opposed to a national cemetery) may be eligible for a VA Burial Allowance. The VA states on its site, "VA burial allowances are flat-rate monetary benefits that are more often than not paid at the maximum corporeality authorized by law for an eligible veteran's burial and funeral costs. A VA regulation change in 2014 simplified the plan to pay eligible survivors quickly and efficiently. Eligible surviving spouses of record are paid automatically upon notification of the veteran's death, without the need to submit a claim. VA may grant additional benefits, including the plot or interment allowance and transportation allowance, if it receives a claim for these benefits."

In some areas, national cemeteries are non in close proximity. For this reason, the Section of Veterans Diplomacy (VA) Veterans Cemetery Grants Plan was established to complement the VA's National Cemetery Administration. "The program assists states, territories and federally recognized tribal governments in providing gravesites for Veterans in those areas where VA'southward national cemeteries cannot fully satisfy their burial needs. Grants may be used only for the purpose of establishing, expanding or improving Veterans cemeteries that are endemic and operated past a state, federally recognized tribal government, or U.S. territory."

Veterans must meet eligibility requirements for their families to receive VA burial benefits for their last expenses, and amounts vary based on circumstances. For a service-related expiry, "VA will pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses for deaths on or after September 11, 2001, or up to $one,500 for deaths prior to September 11, 2001. If the veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost of transporting the deceased may be reimbursed." For non-service-related deaths, "VA will pay upwards to $700 toward burial and funeral expenses for deaths on or after October 1, 2011 (if hospitalized by VA at fourth dimension of death), or $300 toward burying and funeral expenses (if non hospitalized by VA at time of expiry), and a $700 plot-interment allowance (if not buried in a national cemetery). For deaths on or afterward December one, 2001, just before October ane, 2011, VA will pay upwardly to $300 toward burial and funeral expenses and a $300 plot-interment allowance. For deaths on or later on April 1, 1988 simply before Oct 1, 2011, VA volition pay $300 toward burial and funeral expenses (for Veterans hospitalized by VA at the time of death)."

The spouse and dependents of an eligible veteran are entitled to burial and a mark in a national cemetery, even if the veteran is not buried at that place. According to the Funeral Consumers Alliance, "A spouse who remarries a non-veteran may claim burying rights from the prior matrimony. Spouses receiving military pay and who die in a armed forces medical facility are eligible for military transport to the nearest national cemetery or no further than the terminal permanent residence. Adult children of veterans are entitled to burial benefits just if disabled and dependent."

War machine funeral honors are available upon request for eligible veterans' services. According to the VA's website, "Upon asking, DoD [the Department of Defence] volition provide armed forces funeral honors consisting of folding and the presentation of the United states flag and the playing of 'Taps.' A funeral honors item consists of ii or more uniformed members of the war machine, with at to the lowest degree ane fellow member from the deceased's branch of service." Families should inform the funeral manager or planner if they wish to request full military funeral honors for cremation or burial. Additionally, "VA tin can assist arrange honors for burials at VA national cemeteries. Veteran's service organizations or volunteer groups may help provide honors."

How to Access VA Burial Benefits

The following resources provide information and step-past-footstep guides on how to obtain veterans burial and cremation benefits available to families of veterans for final arrangements.

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At that place are 141 national cemeteries in twoscore states (and Puerto Rico), in addition to 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites. At that place is not a VA national cemetery in every state. This resource offers a helpful search function to locate national and state cemeteries. Please note that for State Veterans Cemeteries, the VA cannot provide information on VA burial eligibility or answer other questions; for these cemeteries, you lot should contact the cemetery directly.

The National Cemetery Scheduling Function is responsible for determining eligibility and scheduling burials in the national cemeteries. It notes, "A decision of eligibility is made in response to a asking for burying in a VA national cemetery. To schedule a burial, fax all discharge documentation to 1-866-900-6417 and follow-up with a telephone call to 1-800-535-1117."

To apply for VA Burial Assart , surviving family unit members must submitVA class 21-530. This resource provides detailed information on determining eligibility for veterans burying and cremation services benefits, how to obtain a copy of your loved one's war machine discharge documents if they are not located with the veteran'due south other documents, and more.

If y'all practise not take the proper eligibility documentation, someone from the Scheduling Office will assist you with verification. This resource provides footstep-past-step instructions for scheduling a VA burial at whatever of the 141 national cemeteries with bachelor infinite.

Eligible veterans may receive a government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any deceased eligible veteran, at no charge to the family. Veterans who are eligible to receive a marker may utilize this VA burial benefit regardless of the date of death, and these markers may be used in any cemetery around the world.

The VA provides a United States flag at no cost for draping on a casket or accompanying an urn for a deceased veteran. This resource offers data on the symbolism of the flag existence given as a mode to laurels the veteran's service to the USA, as well as information on how to obtain a flag. To receive 1, surviving family members must submit VA Form 27-2008, Awarding for United States Flag for Burial Purposes .

Veterans are also eligible to receive a Presidential Memorial Certificate. To receive a certificate, surviving family members must submitVA Form 40-0247 Application for Presidential Memorial Document. This resource also provides data on how to use for a PMC using the agency'due south toll-free fax line.

Other Fiscal Assistance for VA Burial for Veterans and Families

The following resources provide useful data on other ways to obtain financial assistance to aid offset the costs of expenses for veterans burying and cremation services.

Paradigm via Flickr by Official U.Southward. Navy Folio

An private receiving Social Security is eligible for a lump sum death payment of $255 .These funds are provided to the surviving spouse or child under the historic period of 18. The official website for the Social Security Administration, SSA.gov, provides more information on eligibility and how to utilize.

Families are generally responsible for spending within their budgets for a loved ane's funeral. This is why preplanning veterans burial and cremation services is so important. By determining your eligibility for diverse benefits, you proceeds a clearer picture of how much a family should spend on terminal arrangements for a loved i.

Insurance benefits are sometimes used to offset the costs of final expenses .This resource discusses the insurance death benefit and how to assign a funeral dwelling or managing director a portion or all of the proceeds, prepayment plans, and other information to help you lot understand the various options for covering the costs of a funeral and interment.

Helpful Resource on Veterans Burying and Cremation Services Benefits for Funeral Planners and Directors

Every bit cremation becomes an increasingly popular choice, funeral directors and planners are able to better serve their clients by becoming knowledgeable most VA burial benefits for cremation services and incorporating cremation as an option for families. The following resources provide helpful information, tools, and organizations for pre-death planners, funeral directors, and similar professionals who wish to help families who choose cremation provide a meaningful service worthy of their veteran loved ones.

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The National Funeral Directors Association offers educational resource and tools for funeral directors for incorporating cremation as a selection for their clients. Domicile written report courses, information for consumers, sample legal documents and forms, and more than are bachelor from the NFDA.

The Cremation Clan of Due north America is an fantabulous resources for pre-expiry planners and funeral directors. Membership in this organization provides access to education, publications, networking opportunities, and public awareness.

The National Cemetery Administration offers a multitude of resources for funeral directors, pre-expiry planners, and similar professionals, including links to information on determining eligibility for VA Burying Allowance, how to make arrangements for a national cemetery interment or committal service, arrange for burial flags, and other helpful information to assist you lot better serve your veteran clients.

Whether you're a surviving family member of a veteran or a pre-decease planning professional who wants to better serve clients with helpful data on the veterans burial and cremation benefits available for veterans and their families, the resources in this guide provide everything you demand to know to give your loved ane or your clients proper final arrangements worthy of their service to our country.

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The Neptune Social club is the nation'due south oldest and largest provider of affordable cremation services. Whether y'all have an firsthand demand or want to programme cremation services in accelerate, we are always available to aid you and your family.

Phone call 1-800-NEPTUNE (800-637-8863) today or contact us online to learn more.

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Source: https://www.neptunesociety.com/resources/a-guide-to-cremation-and-burial-for-veterans