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EVENTS
NEWS & INPUT
VETERAN PROGRAMS
Burial, Memorial & Survivor Benefits
What a veteran's family can receive, and what to do first when making arrangements or filing for survivor benefits.
Overview
Whether you're planning ahead or a loved one has just passed, this page walks you through what a veteran's family can receive and what to do first.
Take it one step at a time. You don't have to do this alone: the Williamson County Veteran Service Office helps families file these claims for free.
If a veteran has just passed: first steps
Tell the funeral home he or she was a veteran
The funeral director can request military funeral honors and a burial flag for you, and can help schedule burial in a veterans cemetery.
Find the DD-214
Almost every benefit below needs the veteran's discharge papers. If you can't find them, the funeral home or the county Veteran Service Office can help you request a copy.
Keep every receipt
The VA burial allowance pays you back after the funeral, so save the funeral home and cemetery receipts in your name.
Call the county Veteran Service Office
They can help you file for the burial allowance and survivor benefits at no cost. Their details are in the box below.
What your family may be able to get
Each of these is a separate benefit. Getting one doesn't mean you've applied for the others.
Burial in a veterans cemetery
Burial is free for eligible veterans, and often their spouse. The closest options are the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, and the DFW National Cemetery in Dallas. Each has its own rules, so check ahead of time.
A headstone, marker, or medallion
The VA provides one free, even when the veteran is buried in a private cemetery.
A burial flag
A U.S. flag to drape the casket or go with the urn. Your funeral director can get it for you.
Military funeral honors
At least two service members fold and present the flag and play Taps. Ask your funeral director to request it.
A Presidential Memorial Certificate
A certificate signed by the President honoring the veteran's service. Family members can request more than one.
A burial allowance
Money toward funeral and burial costs, paid back to whoever paid them.
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If the death was service-connected: up to $2,000.
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If not, and the veteran died on or after October 1, 2026: up to $1,032, plus up to $1,032 for a plot when the burial isn't in a national cemetery.
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For a death that wasn't service-connected, file within 2 years of the burial.
Amounts change each October. If the VA already lists you as the surviving spouse, it may pay you automatically.
Survivor benefits (DIC)
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is a monthly payment for many surviving spouses and dependent children. It's a separate application from burial benefits, so apply for it on its own.
FREE HELP IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY
Accredited staff help families file for the burial allowance and survivor benefits at no cost.
Monday to Friday, by appointment.
100 Wilco Way, Suite V101, Georgetown · Offices also in Round Rock and Taylor
(512) 943-1900 · veteranservices@wilcotx.gov
Williamson County Veteran Service Office
Wilco Veterans is not a certified VSO. Always confirm details with the agency or an accredited representative.
Planning ahead
A veteran or spouse can find out now whether they qualify for burial in a VA national cemetery. The VA keeps the decision on file, which makes arrangements faster for the family later. Applying doesn't commit anyone to a national cemetery.
For the state cemetery in Killeen, contact the cemetery about its own pre-planning.
What to gather
A place to remember
The Georgetown-Williamson County Veterans Memorial Plaza in Sun City is a local place of remembrance. Read its story.