Burial Benefits
Burial Allowance for Veterans, Wives or Widows
SDCL 33A-5-2 & 33A-5-3
A payment of up to $100 may be paid by the state to help defray the burial and funeral expenses of any honorably discharged veteran or the wife, widow or widower of a veteran when the estate, or immediate family, of the deceased is lacking in funds to pay the expenses. The veteran must have been a citizen of the United States and a resident of South Dakota for one year preceding entrance into military service or one year preceding the death. This payment CANNOT be made to another unit of government. The surviving spouse, or relatives, must furnish an affidavit to the C/TVSO that sufficient funds are not available for payment of the expenses.
Application for the Burial Allowance must be submitted by the county or tribal veterans service officer to the Pierre office within one year from the date of the burial.
Planning Your Legacy
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs provides a survivors and burial benefits kit as a source of pre-need planning information and record storage for veterans and their families. The kit includes a section to guide you through possible end-of-life and survivors' benefits eligibility, as well as samples of completed forms that may be needed in the application process.
Click here to download the Planning Your Legacy VA Survivors and Burial Benefits Kit.
Military Funeral Honors Stipend Reimbursement
The South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs provides a reimbursement to congressionally chartered veterans service organizations for their services in conducting military funeral honors.
Forms must be submitted, by the veterans service organization, after services have been performed.
Forms must be submitted to the: South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs (425 E. Capitol, Pierre, SD 57501).
Reimbursement will be paid quarterly.
Click here to view the reimbursement form.
Click here if you are applying for reimbursement for the first time.