Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home ~ Kingston, New York ~ Caring Funeral and Cremation Services

This page is dedicated to our veterans and to remind veterans and their families of the survivor benefits that may be available to them.

In New York State, the County Veterans Service Agencies, in cooperation with the Veterans Administration, provide guides for the veteran’s family that will help them maintain the necessary records and how to claim any veteran benefits that may be applicable.

To contact our local V.A. office:
Ulster County Veterans Service Agency
300 Flatbush Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401
Telephone: (845) 338-8443

Here are some suggestions:

When arranging the veteran’s funeral, furnish the funeral home with a copy of the veteran’s Military Discharge Certificate or Report of Separation (DD Form 214), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Claim Number (if known) and the veteran’s Social Security number.
We will assist the veteran’s family in securing any Veterans Administration burial benefits, and will also handle arrangements for burial in a national cemetery.
We will apply for the United States flag to drape or display in the casket through the local postmaster using the Veteran’s Discharge (DD Form 214).
If the deceased veteran was a member of a veterans organization such as the VFW, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, the Commander will be contacted for any ritual service at the funeral home or cemetery ritual. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Joyce-Schirick Post 1386, Kingston provides a Color Guard/Honor Guard at the cemetery for a gun salute, taps and flag presentation. This service, arranged by the funeral home, is conditional of weather and availability of the Guard. A donation by the family (although not required) to the Post in memory of the veteran may be appropriate.
Veterans Administration benefits which may be available include:
1. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for spouse or dependent children;
2. Pension for spouse or dependent children;
3. Burial benefits:
  1. $300. burial benefit for veterans receiving compensation or pension, or who die in a VA Medical Center;
  2. Burial allowance for honorably discharged indigent veterans who die as a result of a service connected disability or whose remains are unclaimed;
  3. $300. burial plot allowance or grave for the veteran, spouse and dependent children (where applicable);
  4. Headstone, grave markers or niche markers.
4. National Service VA life insurance claims.
Important documents (originals or certified copies) to have available when applying for assistance:
1. Honorable Discharge from the Armed Forces or Report of Military Separation DD Form 214);
2. Record of marriage;
3. Birth certificates of dependent children;
4. Death certificate for the veteran and any previous spouse;
5. Veteran’s Social Security number and VA claim number;
6. Divorce papers (if applicable);
7. Adoption papers for dependent children (if applicable);
8. Annual family income figures.
(Some of these documents may also be required when filing a survivor’s claim with Social Security.)

A death certificate is always required when applying for any insurance benefits. A local county veterans service officer may offer assistance in supplying and completing forms for G.I. Insurance. Some veterans organizations provide insurance on an individual basis: American Legion Life Insurance (1-800-542-5547) and VFW Insurance Dept. (1-800-821-2606).

Veterans and their families should keep all the above-mentioned documents together so that they will be readily accessible to survivors. We can also answer any questions or concerns you may have when a veteran dies. We will help you plan those special rituals that provide the respect that every deceased veteran deserves.

Another helpful resource is the Veterans Administration’s Website: www.va.gov .

Veterans Health Administration Links:
VISN 2: VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York

Area VA Medical Centers:
Albany: Albany VA Medical Center: Samuel S. Stratton
Castle Point: Castle Point Campus of the VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System
Montrose: Franklin Delano Roosevelt Campus of the VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System (Montrose)

Area Outpatient Clinics:
Kingston: Kingston Community Clinic
Middletown: Middletown Community Clinic
Monticello: Monticello Community Clinic
Poughkeepsie: Poughkeepsie Community Clinic

Community Based Outpatient Clinics:
Catskill: Catskill VA Outpatient Clinic
Kingston: Kingston VA Outpatient Clinic
Our funeral home offers solid wood flag cases which may be purchased during or after the funeral service. These cases provide a permanent means of displaying the American flag in your home. Call our funeral home today for a color brochure outlining the various options for cases. Please visit our supplier’s website: http://www.spartacraft.com

Link to Veteran’s Benefits Administration / US Department of Veteran’s Affairs: http://www.vba.va.gov/index.htm

The mission of the Veterans Benefits Administration, in partnership with the Veterans Health Administration and the National Cemetery Administration, is to provide benefits and services to the veterans and their families in a responsive, timely and compassionate manner in recognition of their service to the Nation.

To help you navigate throughout the VA Web site easily, we have included a map of the high level pages below.

VA Home Page
Veterans Benefits & Services VA Home Page

Veterans Benefits & Services
     Health Benefits & Services
     Appeals: Board of Veterans' Appeals
     Burial & Memorial Benefits
     Compensation & Pension Benefits
     Education Benefits
     Home Loan Guaranty Services
     Insurance Benefits
     Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Services

About VA: General Information
     Facilities Locator
     Forms
     Job Opportunities
     A History of Supporting Veterans
     Organizations
         National Cemetery Administration
         Veterans Benefits Administration
         Veterans Health Administration
         Board of Contract Appeals
         Board of Veterans' Appeals
         Center for Minority Veterans
         Center for Women Veterans
         Office of Acquisition & Materiel Management
         Office of Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Mediation
         Office of Congressional Affairs
         Office of Financial Managment
         Office of the General Counsel
         Office of Information & Technology
         Office of Inspector General
         Office of Occupational Safety & Health
         Office of Public Affairs
         Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization
     Programs
         Advisory Committees
         VBA Projects & Special Programs
         Conversations with America
         Debt Management Center
         Health Programs
         Homeless Assistance Programs & Initiatives
         Minority Programs
         Records Center & Vault
         VA Franchise Fund (VA Enterprise Centers)
         Veterans Industries
         Women's Programs
     Publications & Communications
     Purpose, Mission, & Vision
     Strategic & Capital Plans
     Training
     Web Site Information
Congress: Congressional & Legislative Affairs
     Casework Resources
     Communications to Congress
     Federal Regulations
     VA Testimony
     Veterans Legislation
     House Committees
     Senate Committees
     US House of Representatives
     US Senate
     Who is my Member of Congress?

Online Applications
     Compensation & Pension
     Education
     Health
     Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Services

Public Affairs & Special Events
     Biographies of VA Officials
     Fact Sheets, Programs & Issues
     Feature Items & Information
     In the News: Press Releases
     Special Events: Ceremonies & Games

Partners, Veterans Organizations, & Vendors
     Business Partnership Opportunities
     Plans: Strategic & Capital Plans
     State Veterans Affairs Offices
     Veterans Service Organizations

Veteran Data & Information
     Demographics
     Geographic Information
     Helpful Data Links
     Program Statistics
     Survey Results
     Trends

What's New to the VA Web Site

Hot Topics Within the VA

General Pages
     1-Stop Service Inquiry Page
     Bookmarks & Links
     Contact the VA
     Disclaimer of Endorsement Statement
     Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
     Government Information Locator Service (GILS)
     Office of Inspector General Hotline
     Privacy Policy
     Search the VA Web Site
     VA HyperFAQ


Link to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs: http://www.va.gov To help you navigate throughout the VA National Cemetery Administration Web site easily, we have included a map of the pages below and above our Web site. Burial & Memorial Benefits Home Page National Cemetery Administration "A Sacred Trust" A video program providing an overview of the National Cemetery Administration and the many services it provides to our Nation's veterans. What's New Current News Releases, News Release Archive, New National Cemeteries and Selected Highlights About NCA
     Mission, Vision, Purpose
     Customer Service Standards
     Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs
     Advisory Committee on Cemeteries & Memorials
     Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs
     Fact Sheets
     Frequently Asked Questions
     Freedom of Information Act Reading Room
     Inquiries
     Links to Related WWW Sites
History
     General History
     Dates Established
     History of Government-Furnished Headstones and Markers
     "Bivouac of the Dead"
     National Cemeteries with Meigs Lodges
     Memorials Inventory Project
     Publications

National Cemetery Web Pages

Cemeteries
     Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemeteries
          New National Cemeteries
     State Veterans Cemeteries
     Department of the Army National Cemeteries
          Arlington National Cemetery
     Department of Interior National Cemeteries
     American Battle Monuments Commission National Cemeteries

Burial Benefits
     Burial Benefits Available from the National Cemetery Administration
     Eligibility
     Preparing in Advance
     How to Make Burial Arrangements
     Burial of Unclaimed, Indigent Veterans
     Burial Flags
     Donating Burial Flags to National Cemeteries
     Burial Allowance Benefits
     Burial in a Private Cemetery
     Burial at Sea
     VA-NCA-IS-1 Interments in VA National Cemeteries

Headstones and Markers
     Important Notice - New Law Concerning Eligibility for Headstones and Markers
     General Information
     Eligibility for a Headstone or Marker
     Ordering a Headstone or Marker
     VA Form 40-1330, Application for Standard Government Headstone or Marker
     How to Complete VA Form 1330
          Types of Headstones and Markers Available
     Checking Status of a Headstone or Marker Request
     Memorial Headstones and Markers
     Setting Government Headstones and Markers
     Inscriptions
          Emblems of Belief Available for Placement on Headstones and Markers
     Replacement Headstones and Markers
     Civil War Era Headstones and Markers

Presidential Memorial Certificates

Military Funeral Honors

State Cemetery Grants Program
     General Information
     New State Veterans Cemeteries
     Establishing a State Veterans Cemetery
     Grant Requirements
     Standard Form 424 Application for Federal Assistance
     List of State Veterans Cemeteries (Address and Phone Numbers)

Locating Veterans
     Burial Locations
     Contacting Veterans

Obtaining Military Records & Medals
     Obtaining Military Records
     The National Personnel Records Center
     Obtaining Replacement Medals

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Complimentary Vinyl Flag Cover provided by Simpson-Gaus
Zippered with a navy backing and clear front with red trim