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Government
Benefits
When prearranging, it's wise to
consider any impact on your Social Supplemental Security Income
or Medicaid eligibility. Usually, both government programs allow
a person to exclude prearranged funerals within certain limits.
The exclusion can vary by state; therefore, we recommend you contact
your chosen funeral home, accountant, attorney, or other advisor
for more details. The following information about the person who
died will be helpful to survivors when they do apply for government
benefits:
- Social Security number
- Record of earnings for the year preceding
death
- Income-tax returns and W-2s
- Date of last Social Security check
- Funeral-expense total
- Birth record of children under age 23
- Marriage certificate
- Social Security numbers of spouse and children
- Military records
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If you also qualify for veterans benefits,
contact the Social Security Administration office before contacting
the Veteran's Administration. You can visit the Social Security
Administration online at www.ssa.gov This
site also contains information involving Medicare. The Center
for Medicaid and State Operations also offers Medicare information
at:
www.hcfa.gov/medicaid/medicaid.htm
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Medicaid
Some people plan their estates
to be eligible for Medicaid - a shared state-and-federal program
for the aged, blind, disabled or those who qualify for Aid
to Families with Dependent Children - conserving their assets
for heirs. However, a 1997 law punishes financial professionals
with jail and/or fines for advising clients to dispose of
income (spending down) to meet eligibility. Though the penalties
don't apply to seniors who take that advice, they face ineligibility
periods.
Medicaid is essentially welfare and,
as a result, not all nursing centers accept it and those who
do often have long waits. Those who qualify for Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) often meet Medicaid criteria.
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Social
Security
Social-Security
benefits end at death, although a one-time death benefit and/or
survivor's benefits may apply to certain family members. These are
not automatic and must be applied for. Typically a family member
or the funeral director notifies the Social Security Administration
upon death.
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Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs
furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a Government
headstone or marker to mark the unmarked grave of an eligible veteran
in any cemetery around the world. By law, Government markers are
not provided to be used as foot stones and should not be used to
double-mark a veteran’s grave.
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Veterans Affairs relies on the integrity
of the applicant to request a Government-provided headstone
or marker only if the grave is not, or will not be, marked
with a private headstone or marker. Headstones and markers
are provided for eligible spouses and dependents of veterans
only when buried in a national, military post/base, or State
veterans cemetery.
Spouses and dependents buried in a private
cemetery are not eligible for a Government-provided headstone
or marker. Flat bronze, granite or marble markers and upright
granite and marble headstones are available. The style chosen
must be consistent with existing monuments at the place of
burial. Niche markers are also available to mark columbaria
used for inurnment of cremated remains.
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Military Honors
The Department of Defense is responsible
for providing military funeral honors. The Department of Veterans
Affairs National Cemetery Administration cemetery staff assist
with military funeral honors at VA national cemeteries.
On January 1, 2000, the Department of
Defense began the implementation plan for providing military
funeral honors for eligible veterans as enacted in Section
578 of Public Law 106-65 of the National Defense Authorization
Act for FY 2000. "Honoring Those Who Served" is the title
of the DOD program for providing dignified military funeral
honors to veterans who have defended our Nation.
While military funeral honors are a long-standing
tradition within the Armed Forces, this DOD program is in
response to the new law governing funeral honors for eligible
veterans. Upon the family's request, the law requires that
every eligible veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony
to include folding and presenting the United States burial
flag and the playing of Taps.
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The law defines a military funeral honors detail
as consisting of two or more uniformed military persons with at
least one a member of the veteran's parent service of the Armed
Forces. The DOD program calls for funeral home directors to request
military funeral honors on behalf of the veterans' family. Veterans
organizations may assist in the provision of military funeral honors.
When military funeral honors at a national cemetery are desired,
they are arranged prior to the committal service by the funeral
home.
Questions or comments concerning the DOD military
funeral honors program may be sent to the address listed below.
A military funeral honors web site is located at:
www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.milm
Military Funeral Honors
9504 IH-35 North, Suite 320
San Antonio, TX 78233-6635
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