FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2016
VA
National Cemeteries Now Offering Pre-Need Eligibility Determinations
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced it
now provides eligibility determinations for interment in a VA national cemetery
prior to the time of need. Through the Pre-Need Determination of Eligibility
Program, upon request, individuals can learn if they are eligible for burial or
memorialization in a VA national cemetery.
“MyVA
is about looking at VA from the Veterans’ perspective, and then doing
everything we can to make the Veteran Experience effective and seamless,” said
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.”
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 Eligibility.PreNeed@va.gov; 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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