64.205: VA Casket or Urn Reimbursement Program
Overview
Program Number
64.205
Status
Inactive
Last Modified
Aug. 11, 2020
Date Posted
Aug. 11, 2020
Objective
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will reimburse the purchase of a casket or urn used to inter a deceased, Unclaimed Veteran in a VA national cemetery or a VA-funded State or Tribal Veterans' cemetery if the Veteran died with no identifiable next of kin and insufficient resources to pay for a casket or urn.
Type of Assistance
C - Direct Payments for Specified Use
Applicant Eligibility
Prior to approving reimbursement VA must find all of the following:
(1) The veteran is eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery;
(2) The individual or entity has certified that they cannot identify the veteran's next-of-kin, or that an identified next-of-kin is unwilling or unable to assume responsibility for the deceased veteran's burial arrangements, and that the individual or entity has followed applicable state or local law relating to the disposition of unclaimed remains;
(3) The individual or entity has certified that, to the best of their knowledge, sufficient resources are otherwise unavailable to furnish the casket or urn;
(4) The invoice presented by the individual or entity clearly indicates the purchase price of the casket or urn purchased by the individual or entity; and
(5) The invoice presented by the individual or entity contains information sufficient for VA to determine, in conjunction with a visual inspection, that the casket or urn meets the following standards:
(i) Caskets must be of metal construction of at least 20-gauge thickness, designed for containing human remains, sufficient to contain the remains of the deceased veteran, include a gasketed seal, and include external fixed rails or swing arm handles.
(ii) Urns must be of a durable construction, such as durable plastic, wood, metal, or ceramic, designed to contain cremated human remains, and include a secure closure to contain the cremated remains.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Beneficiary eligibility is the same as applicant eligibility.
Additional Information
Grant Awards
VA Casket or Urn Reimbursement Program direct grants
Grant Opportunities