Montana Veterans

County Benefits – each county in the State of Montana provides a death benefit for residents of their county, and each county provides a different amount. Croxford Funeral Home will apply for this benefit as part of our professional services offered when serving your family. We will require the veteran’s discharge papers (DD 214) stating an honorable discharge for the veteran. These funds provided by the county are mailed directly to the funeral home and may be used to apply as payment toward the funeral service. If your loved one’s funeral is paid in full when the funds are received, then Croxford Funeral Home will forward the funds to the decedent’s Next of Kin.

Cascade County provides $250.00
Teton County provides $400.00
Lewis & Clark County provides $250.00
Pondera County provides $400.00

For information on other county veteran death benefits, please contact the Clark and Recorder for that county.

Federal Benefits – veterans may be eligible for federal death benefits, but these are different for each veteran and specific to the circumstances of their death as well as dependent upon the length and era of their service. Croxford Funeral Home will apply for any federal benefits your veteran may be eligible for as part of our professional services offered when serving your family. We will require the veteran’s Next of Kin to sign the application forms and provide the veteran’s discharge papers (DD 214) stating an honorable discharge for the veteran.

Service-related Death

VA will pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses for deaths on or after September 11, 2001, or up to $1,500 for deaths prior to September 11, 2001. If the Veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost of transporting the deceased may be reimbursed.

Non-service-related Death

VA will pay up to $700 toward burial and funeral expenses for deaths on or after October 1, 2011 (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 plot-interment allowance (if not buried in a national cemetery). For deaths on or after December 1, 2001, but before October 1, 2011, VA will pay up to $300 toward burial and funeral expenses and a $300 plot-interment allowance. For deaths on or after April 1, 1988 but before October 1, 2011, VA will pay $300 toward burial and funeral expenses (for Veterans hospitalized by VA at the time of death).

An annual increase in burial and plot allowances for deaths occurring after October 1, 2011 begins in fiscal year 2013 based on the Consumer Price Index for the preceding 12-month period.

Eligibility Requirements

· You paid for a Veteran's burial or funeral, AND
· You have not been reimbursed by another government agency or some other source, such as the deceased Veteran's employer, AND
· The Veteran was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, AND
· The Veteran died because of a service-related disability, OR
· The Veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death, OR
· The Veteran was entitled to receive VA pension or compensation, but decided not to reduce his/her military retirement or disability pay, OR
· The Veteran died while hospitalized by VA, or while receiving care under VA contract at a non-VA facility, OR
· The Veteran died while traveling under proper authorization and at VA expense to or from a specified place for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care, OR
· The Veteran had an original or reopened claim pending at the time of death and has been found entitled to compensation or pension from a date prior to the date or death, OR
The Veteran died on or after October 9, 1996, while a patient at a VA-approved state nursing home.
NOTE: VA does not pay burial benefits if the deceased:
· Died during active military service, OR
· Was a member of Congress who died while holding office, OR
Was a Federal prisoner