VA National Cemeteries Now Offering Pre-Need Eligibility Determinations

Many individuals would like to know, in advance, whether they are eligible for burial or memorialization in a Department of Veterans Affairs national cemetery. To assist them, the federal VA has launched the “Pre-Need Eligibility Determination Program,” through which veterans and their family members can, upon request, learn if they are eligible for interment in a VA national cemetery prior to their death.

The program, announced in December 2016, is aimed specifically at helping individuals with burial planning and making sure their deceased loved ones’ wishes are known well beforehand. It comes as part of a larger initiative, MyVA, focused on enhancing the overall VA service experience for veterans and VA employees.

“MyVA is about looking at the VA from the veterans’ perspective, and then doing everything we can to make the veteran experience effective and seamless,” said former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald. “This new program reaffirms our commitment to providing a lifetime of benefits and services for veterans and their families.”

To apply, you must submit a VA Form 40-10007, Application for Pre- Need Determination of Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery, along with supporting documentation, such as a DD 214, to the VA National Cemetery Scheduling Office by toll-free fax at 1-855-840-8299; email to Eligibility.PreNeed@va.gov; or regular mail to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office, P.O. Box 510543, St. Louis, MO 63151.

The federal VA will review applications and provide written notice of its determination of eligibility. That determination and supporting documentation will also be kept on file to expedite future burial arrangements at the time of need.

Those generally eligible for burial in a national cemetery include active duty military members, veterans who have met minimum active duty service requirements as applicable by law and who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, and members of the reserves and National Guard who have 20 years of service creditable for retired pay, or died while on active duty, or were activated and served a full term of active service. Veterans’ spouses, minor children and, under certain conditions, dependent unmarried adult children may also be eligible for burial even if they predecease the eligible veteran.

If you are deemed eligible, you will be entitled to the same benefits that you would receive were a determination made at the time of death, including any or all of the following, at no cost to the family: burial in any open VA national cemetery, perpetual care of the gravesite, government-furnished headstone or marker, burial flag, and Presidential Memorial Certificate.