Veterans Overview

With a long tradition of honoring our veterans, Michelotti-Sawyers feels privileged to assist families with the tasks of obtaining all financial benefits-veterans’ benefits, Social Security benefits and life insurance benefits. We further make certain your veteran receives all funeral and memorial honors that he or she deserves.

Since veterans’ benefits are not paid automatically, you must contact the Veterans Administration. Our staff is ready to assist you in filing the claim on your behalf. To help you sort out some of the details, we’ve selected some important highlights from the VA website regarding VA burial allowances, eligibility, the application, and payment amounts.

Burial Allowances

VA burial allowances are partial reimbursements of an eligible veterans’ burial and funeral costs. When the cause of death is not service related, the reimbursements are generally described as two payments: 1) a burial and funeral expense allowance, and 2) a plot or interment allowance. Montana, through the counties also provides a veteran’s burial benefit.

Who Is Eligible

To be eligible, the veteran must be discharged or separated from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable, having completed the required period of service. U.S. Armed Forces members who die on active duty are also eligible, as well as spouses and dependent children of eligible living and deceased veterans, and of current and deceased armed forces members.

How to Apply

Michelotti-Sawyers will assist you in applying to the Veterans Administration for all of the benefits on the veteran’s behalf. Generally, we require a copy of the veteran’s honorable discharge (DD-214). We provide a suitable copy of the Death Certificate for the application process.

Payment Amounts

For a Service-Related Death, the VA will pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses. If the Veteran is buried in a VA National Cemetery, some or all of the cost of transporting the deceased may be reimbursed.

For a Non-Service-Related Death, the VA will pay up to $700 toward burial and funeral expenses (if hospitalized by VA at time of death), or $300 toward burial and funeral expenses (if not hospitalized by VA at time of death), and a $700.00 plot-interment allowance (if not buried in a National Cemetery). If the death happened while the Veteran was in a VA hospital or under VA-contracted nursing home care, some or all of the costs for transporting the veteran’s remains may be reimbursed.

The State benefit paid by Yellowstone County is $250.