For more information regarding
burial benefits for Illinois veterans and
service members, please call the
Military and Veterans Rights
Helpline or visit our website.
Military and Veterans Rights Bureau
Main Page
https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/rights-of-the-people/
military-and-veterans-rights/
Military and Veterans Rights Helpline
1-800-382-3000
Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities can
reach us by using the 7-1-1 relay service.
Military and Veterans Rights Bureau
Office of the Attorney General
201 West Pointe Drive, Suite 7
Belleville, IL 62226
Military and Veterans Rights Bureau
Office of the Attorney General
115 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60603
www.IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.gov
Printed by authority of the State of Illinois. 12/23
This material is available in alternate format upon request.
A Message from
ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL
KWAME RAOUL
If you are the survivor of a veteran or military
service member, you may be entitled to burial
benefits that will assist you with burial expenses
and ensure the proper recognition of the deceased
veteran’s service to his or her country.
This brochure explains what burial benefits are
available and how to obtain them. Bereavement
counseling is also available to all family members of
a service member who died while serving on active
duty.
For assistance in obtaining these benefits or for more
information, please contact my office’s Military and
Veterans Rights Helpline at 1-800-382-3000
(7-1-1 relay system).
Sincerely,
Kwame Raoul
Attorney General
KWAME RAOUL
ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL
Burial BenefitsBurial Benefits
forfor
Illinois VeteransIllinois Veterans
««««««««««««««««««
There are benefits and programs offered to survi-
vors by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
and the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.
Burial Assistance, Plot And Internment
Allowance
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pro-
vides assistance with burial and funeral expenses
of deceased veterans.
Veteran’s Death is Service Connected:
Survivors may receive up to $2,000 toward fu-
neral and burial expenses.
Veteran’s Death is Non-Service Connected:
Survivors may be eligible for burial and plot al-
lowances based on when and where the death
occurred.
Unclaimed Remains:
If a veteran’s remains are unclaimed upon his
death, the entity who handles the veteran’s burial
may receive up to $300 to go toward expenses.
Application:
Survivors or individuals acting on behalf of the
veteran may apply for benefit by submitting a
completed VA Form 21P-530, Application for
Burial Benefits.
Burial in a National Cemetery
Burial in a national cemetery is available for eli-
gible veterans, spouses and dependents. Veterans
would receive a flag and military honors. Eli-
gible spouses and dependent children of eligible
veterans may be qualified for burial in a national
cemetery even if the veteran is not buried in one.
On behalf of the veteran, a Presidential Memorial
Certificate can be requested.
Bereavement Counseling
VA Vet Centers provide free and confidential be-
reavement counseling to families who have lost a
service member while serving on active duty, and
to families of a reservist or National Guardsman
who dies while on duty. Survivors can find Vet
Centers at www.vetcenter.va.gov or by contacting
1-877-927-8387.
Burial Flags
A veteran who was not dishonorably discharged
may be eligible to receive a ceremonial American
flag if they meet any of the following
requirements:
• Veteran who served during wartime
• Veteran who died on active duty after May 27,
1941
• Veteran who served after January 31, 1955
• Peacetime Veteran discharged or released
before June 27, 1950
• Certain persons who served in the organized
military forces of the Commonwealth of the
Philippines while in service of the U.S. Armed
Forces and who died on or after April 25, 1951
• Certain former members of the Selected
Reserves
Application:
A survivor or funeral director may apply for the
flag by submitting a completed VA Form 27-2008,
Application for United States Flags for Burial Pur-
poses. Family members can acquire a flag through
the postal service, but should note that not every
post office location provides service.
Grave Marker or Headstone
Veterans discharged from active duty under con-
ditions other than dishonorable and service mem-
bers who die on active duty may be eligible for a
grave marker or headstone provided by the VA.
Application:
Survivors or individuals acting on behalf of a
veteran may apply for the gravestone or memo-
rial marker by submitting a completed VA Form
40-1330, Application for Government Headstone
or Marker, to the VA.
Setting The Marker Or Headstone In
Illinois
When the VA has furnished a headstone or
marker, the Illinois Department of Veterans Af-
fairs (IDVA) shall pay up to the allowable reim-
bursement amount of $125 for the setting of the
marker in Illinois.
Application:
The next of kin may apply by submitting a com-
pleted IDVA Form 3 WVGR to their local IDVA
office.
Illinois Grave Registration
The IDVA maintains a “Roll of Honor” for all vet-
erans buried in Illinois. Survivors and cemeter-
ies help IDVA maintain the “Roll of Honor” by
informing them of the burial of U.S. veterans.
Assistance for Indigent Veterans
County boards are required by state law to pro-
vide a burial allowance up to $900 and appoint
a suitable person to coordinate the burial for an
honorably discharged indigent veteran and their
direct family (mother, father, spouse, minor chil-
dren) who are without sufficient means to cover
the funeral expenses.
FEDERAL BURIAL BENEFITS
ILLINOIS BURIAL BENEFITS
Obtain Records to Apply
Survivors will need to submit the service records of
the deceased veteran along with the necessary sup-
porting documents and applications for federal and
state burial benets. Survivors can request copies of
the required service records, discharge papers, or
DD-214 from the National Archives.
Additional information regarding burial benets can
be found in the Benets for Illinois Veterans booklet,
published by the Ofce of the Illinois Attorney General.
An electronic copy can be found on the Military and
Veterans Rights Website at https://www.illinoisattor-
neygeneral.gov/rights/Benets_for_IL_Veterans.pdf to:
https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/Page-Attach-
ments/Benets_for_IL_Veterans.pdf. Individuals can
request a hard copy by calling the Military and Veterans
Rights Helpline at 1-800-382-3000.
