When a veteran dies, surviving family members must handle a range of notifications, financial decisions, and benefit applications—often while managing grief and unexpected responsibilities.
This guide addresses the questions families commonly ask and reflects the latest 2025 VA rules, burial allowances, and benefit eligibility information.
You’ll also see how a secure tool like Trustworthy's Family Operating System® can make it easier to keep key documents organized and accessible.
Documents and Preparation
What documents do I need when a veteran dies?
A: The two most important documents are the DD214 (discharge papers) and certified copies of the death certificate.
The DD214 verifies military service and discharge status. The VA will not process most applications without it.
You will also likely need marriage certificates, birth certificates for dependent children, insurance policies, bank and loan documents, funeral expense receipts, and estate planning documents.
Trustworthy allows families to securely store digital versions of discharge papers, IDs, wills, and insurance documents so survivors know exactly where everything is when they need it. Certified death certificates must still come from a vital records office, but digital organization can help prevent delays.
How many certified death certificates should I order?
A: Many families need between eight and 12 certified copies. Banks, insurers, mortgage companies, and government agencies usually require certified originals with a raised seal or official stamp.
If you later find you need more, additional certified copies can be ordered from the issuing county or state.
Some states provide one or more free copies for veterans’ families.
What steps can families take ahead of time?
A: Planning helps prevent confusion and delays. Veterans can document their funeral preferences, desired military honors, beneficiary information, and whether they want burial in a national cemetery.
Keeping discharge papers, estate documents, insurance policies, and identification securely stored makes a significant difference.
Trustworthy can help with this by keeping digital versions secure, private, and accessible only to chosen family members.
This way, critical information is available without digging through paper files.
VA Notification and Benefits
How do I notify the Department of Veterans Affairs?
A: You can notify the VA by phone at 800-827-1000, in person at a VA regional office, or by mail at:
Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
P.O. Box 4444
Janesville, WI 53547-4444
Once notified, the VA will stop any ongoing payments and review whether survivors qualify for benefits such as burial allowances or Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.
What burial benefits does the VA offer in 2025?
A: Burial benefits depend on service history and whether the death was service-connected.
In 2025, the VA provides:
Up to $2,000 for service-connected deaths.
$948 burial allowance for non-service-connected deaths.
$948 plot or interment allowance if the veteran is not buried in a national cemetery.
If the veteran is buried in a national cemetery, the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, headstone or marker, and perpetual care are all provided at no cost.
The VA does not provide a reimbursement amount for headstones. Instead, it supplies the headstone or marker directly.
Does the family receive the $100,000 military death gratuity?
A: The $100,000 death gratuity is a Department of Defense benefit, not a VA benefit.
It applies only when a service member dies while on active duty or within 120 days of separation if the death is determined to be service-related.
Honorably discharged veterans who die years after leaving the service do not qualify.
What is Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)?
A: DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit for surviving spouses or dependent children.
Families may receive DIC if the veteran died from a service-connected disability or if the veteran was rated totally disabled for certain periods before death.
Rules can be complex, so many families work with a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to navigate the process.
Social Security, Insurance, and Financial Steps
Do I need to contact Social Security?
A: Yes. Although funeral homes often notify Social Security electronically, survivors should confirm.
You can report the death and apply for survivor benefits at 1-800-772-1213. Survivor benefits do not transfer automatically — you must apply.
How do I file a life insurance claim?
A: Insurance companies require a certified death certificate, proof of identity, and policy information.
If the veteran had Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) or Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI), survivors may file through the VA or Prudential, depending on the policy.
This is another area where document organization helps. Policies, beneficiary statements, and account details stored in Trustworthy make it easier for families to know whom to contact and what information to provide.
Am I responsible for the veteran’s debts?
A: Generally, no. Debts owed by the deceased are paid from the estate, not by surviving family members personally.
You may only be responsible if you co-signed a loan, were a joint account holder, or live in a state with specific community property laws.
Who else should I notify?
A: Survivors may need to contact banks, mortgage and loan servicers, pension administrators, insurance companies, credit card issuers, veteran service organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, or Disabled American Veterans.
Veteran service groups have accredited representatives who assist survivors at no cost.
Funeral Planning and Emotional Support
Can I be reimbursed for funeral costs?
A: The VA may reimburse funeral costs up to the burial and plot allowance amounts for eligible veterans.
Reimbursement depends on eligibility, who paid the expenses, and the type of cemetery chosen. Families should save all receipts and submit them with their application.
How can families honor a deceased veteran?
A: Many families participate in military funeral honors, visit memorial events, place flags at gravesites on commemorative holidays, or support veteran-focused organizations.
Personal traditions and community events often provide comfort and a meaningful way to remember a loved one’s service.
How can families cope with grief after a veteran dies?
A: Grief varies widely from person to person.
Support may come from family, friends, faith communities, veteran groups, or grief counseling services.
Some families find comfort in creating new rituals or joining community events related to military service.
Closing Thoughts
Losing a veteran loved one brings significant emotional and practical challenges. Understanding what benefits may be available, which agencies to contact, and what documents are required can make this difficult time more manageable.
Preparing key documents ahead of time — and storing them securely — can help ensure family members can quickly find what they need.
If families choose to use a digital vault like Trustworthy's, they can keep important records secure, private, and accessible to those who may need them in the future.
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