A military discharge form, such as a DD-214, General Discharge, or a "Report of Separation from the Armed Services" is required to apply for any and all benefits. The discharge can be Wartime or Peacetime issued under conditions other than dishonorable.
If you have a military discharge, we strongly advise that you keep it in a convenient location, we will also be happy to keep a copy of it on file at the funeral home.
If a military discharge is not available, we may be able to help you receive one, however, it can be a lengthy process.
If a copy of the discharge was registered with the Allegheny County Recorded of Deeds, please contact them directly at:
Department of Real Estate
101 County Office Bldg.
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Tel: 412-350-4226 / Fax: 412-350-3787
Discharge forms may also be retrieved from the National Archives. You may click here to be redirected to the National Archives "Request Military Service Records" page.
You may also complete and submit the below form. Instructions are found on the application.
All active-duty members, honorably discharged veterans, retirees, and reservists* are entitled to the following:
Please read all accompanying instructions carefully while completing each application.
As a reminder, only war-time Veterans are eligible to receive monetary benefits.
All burial allowance applications must be submitted with supporting documents within one (1) year of burial or cremation date for eligibility.
As a reminder, only war-time Service Members and their legal spouse are eligible to receive monetary benefits from Allegheny County, as long as the Veteran and their spouse were both a legal resident of the County at the time of their deaths. $100.00 towards funeral expenses of the Veteran and their spouse will be paid upon receipt of the County’s application.
The application must be accompanied by a copy of the military separation papers showing an honorable discharge, a certified death certificate, and a copy of the paid-in-full funeral home bill when it becomes available. County forms must be sent to:
Division of Veterans Services
4141 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
For full eligibility requirements, please visit:
www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-special-burial.asp
The completed Federal form (VA Form 21P-530) must be accompanied by a copy of the military separation papers showing an honorable discharge, a certified death certificate, and a copy of the paid-in-full funeral home bill once it becomes available.
Funeral expenses will be paid on a reimbursement basis which requires survivors to submit receipts for relatively small one-time payments that the VA generally pays at the maximum amount permitted by law. The VA will not pay burial benefits if the deceased died during active military service or was a Federal prisoner.
The Federal form must be sent to the regional VA Office, which can be located at: www.va.gov/directory.
You may also apply online by visiting www.va.gov/burials-memorials/
This benefit is available for the Service Member, their spouse, and any severely disabled children. Please note that non-serving reservists are NOT eligible for burial at a National Cemetery. Burials only take place Mon – Fri.
Burial of a casket or urn in a National Cemetery includes a double depth-plot or niche unit (fits two standard sized urns), standard government grave-liner, opening and closing fee, upright marker or niche lettering, and perpetual care.
For more information, please call 724-746-4363.
Free burial plots, as well as opening and closing fees, are available for indigent Veterans of Wartime Service through Restland.
This benefit does not extend to a spouse or severely disabled children.
For more information, please call 412-823-4888.
VA Form 40-0247 must be accompanied by a copy of the military separation papers showing an honorable discharge. It may be submitted electronically, via mail, or via fax.
Instructions are found on the claim form.
VA Form 40-1330M must be accompanied by a copy of the military separation papers showing an honorable discharge. It may be submitted electronically, via mail, or via fax.
Instructions are found on the claim form.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a Government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world, regardless of their date of death.
For eligible veterans that died on or after Nov. 1, 1990, the VA may also provide a headstone or marker for graves that are already marked with a private headstone or marker. When the grave is already marked, applicants will have the option to apply for either a traditional headstone or marker, or a new device (available spring 2009).
Should a headstone, niche marker, flat marker, or government medallion be requested, cemetery approval will be required to complete the appropriate application. Please alert the funeral home as soon as possible, and we will help facilitate the required signatures.
Please note that while the headstone and markers are made and shipped at no cost to the applicant, installation and foundation fees may apply, and may vary between private cemeteries. The National Cemeteries will not charge for headstones or markers. Each cemetery will have their fees available upon request.
Flat markers in granite, marble, and bronze and upright headstones in granite and marble 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.
When burial or memorialization is in a national cemetery, state veterans' cemetery, or military post/base cemetery, a headstone or marker will be ordered by the cemetery officials based on inscription information provided by the next of kin or authorized representative.
Spouses and dependents are not eligible for a Government-furnished headstone or marker unless they are buried in a national cemetery, state veteran's cemetery, or military post/base cemetery.
Allegheny County will pay up to $100.00 for the foundation and installation of the free Federal headstone or grave marker for Wartime Veterans only.
If there is a difference in cost, it will be the responsibility of the applicant.
This benefit is also available for peacetime veterans and former service personnel whose remains were uncovered.
VA Form 40-1330 must be accompanied by a copy of the military separation papers showing an honorable discharge.
It may be submitted electronically, via mail, or via fax.
Instructions are found on the claim form.
Military discharges, replacement medals or awards may be available from the:
National Personnel Records Center
Allegheny County Department of Veteran Services
412-621-4357
www.alleghenycounty.us/veterans/county-benefits.aspx
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
1-800-827-1000
https://www.va.gov/
National Cemetery Administration
www.cem.va.gov/index.asp
National Cemetery of the Alleghenies
1158 Morgan Road
Bridgeville, PA 15017
724-746-4363
www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ncalleghenies.asp
Military Personnel Records Center
(Lost Records) 314-263-2800
Please contact us at SWG if you need help in applying for any and all of the listed benefits. 412-462-2288