BERKLEY SEEKS INCREASE IN BURIAL BENEFITS FOR VETERANS
Current Payments Fail to Keep Pace With Rising Costs, Benefits not Adjusted for Inflation

(February 16, 2005 -- Washington, D.C.) U.S. Representative and Veterans Affairs' Committee Member Shelley Berkley (D-NV) today introduced legislation to increase burial benefits and plot allowances for veterans and to adjust payment levels annually to better keep pace with rising inflation and funeral costs.

"America's veterans answered the call to duty and through their service to the nation they have protected the freedoms we hold dear. In return for their sacrifice and dedication, we have promised to care for our veterans and to provide financial assistance to cover the cost of a final resting place. Over time, these payments through the VA have failed to keep pace with rising burial costs. Increasing these benefits for veterans will not only help to ensure our American heroes receive a proper burial, but it will also ease the financial burden on families coping with the death of a loved one," said Berkley, who serves as the Ranking Democrat on the Disability and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

The Veterans Burial Benefit Improvement Act, H.R. 805, builds on a similar package offered by Berkley last Congress and includes a provision requiring burial benefits for veterans to be adjusted annually for inflation. Current burial benefits have not increased steadily over the past three decades, and as a result, families of veterans may face thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. Increasing reimbursement levels and adjusting for inflation will help restore the original intent of Congress, which sought in 1973 to provide burial benefits through the VA that would cover approximately 70% of expenses in the case of veterans with a service-connected injury or disability, and a little more than 20% of burial-related expenses for other eligible veterans.

"The Disabled American Veterans, VFW, Paralyzed Veterans of America and AMVETS all support increasing burial benefits to $4,100 for those who were injured or disabled while serving our nation,” said Berkley. “It has been more than 25 years since the last increase in burial benefits for those veterans without a service-connected disability and today the funds provided cover only 6% of the average burial cost. We can end this erosion in benefits once and for all by requiring that payments are adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation.”

Congresswoman Berkley’s legislative package on burial benefits enjoys the support of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and other service organizations concerned with veterans’ issues. Under current law, the VA will reimburse $2,000 in burial expenses for veterans who die of service-related causes. For certain other veterans, the amount is $300 for burial and funeral expenses and $300 for a plot. In addition to increasing burial benefits, Berkley’s legislation also increases the allowance provided to cover the cost of a burial plot in a state or private cemetery.

Key Provisions of the Veterans Burial Benefit Improvement Act

• Increases burial benefits from $2,000 to $4,100 to for veterans who die of service-connected disabilities - This payment is for veterans buried in national cemeteries whose deaths resulted from disabilities incurred or aggravated during a period of active military service.

• Increases burial benefits from $300 to $1,270 for veterans with non-service connected disabilities - This payment is for veterans who were entitled to receive a pension or compensation at the time of death. It also applies to veterans who die in a VA facility, nursing homes under VA contract, or state veterans nursing homes.

• Increases the burial plot allowance from $300 to $745 - This payment is an allowance for veterans buried in State or private cemeteries if a) the veteran was discharged from active duty because of disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty; b) the veteran was eligible for compensation or pension; or c) the veteran died in a VA facility.

• Provides for all of these benefits to be adjusted for inflation annually.

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