How do I find out if my father qualifies for a veterans funeral?

Jnetta04 asked...

My father served in the Air Force during combat. Who do we contact to see if he qualifies for a veterans funeral?

Expert Answer

Barbara Repa, a Caring.com senior editor, is an attorney, a journalist specializing in aging issues, and the author of Your Rights in the Workplace (Nolo), now in its 10th edition.

As a starting point, contact the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Its website provides a fairly comprehensive Q and A section on burial benefits -- along with contact information should you need additional guidance.

A word to the wise: Not surprisingly, the representatives at the VA are known to be particular sticklers for adhering to regulations. They will require that you produce some documentation of your father's active military service, such as a Certificate of Service or Verification of Service Letter. If you can have such paperwork in hand before contacting the VA bureaucrats, it will greatly help in navigating through the system.