THE FUNERAL AND BURIAL PROGRAM

FUNERAL AND BURIAL PROGRAM

The Veterans Affairs Canada Funeral and Burial Program ensures that eligible Veterans receive dignified funeral and burial services. The Program is administered on behalf of VAC by the Last Post Fund | Fonds du Souvenir, a non-profit organization that has served Veterans since 1909.

Eligibility for the program is established through military service and financial criteria.

SERVICE CRITERIA

A Veteran is defined as any former member of the Canadian Armed Forces who successfully underwent basic training and was honourably discharged.
Service eligibility for the Funeral and Burial Program extends to :

  1. Canadian Armed Forces Veterans or any predecessor Naval, Army or Air Forces of Canada or Newfoundland
  2. Canadian Merchant Navy Veterans of the Second World War or the Korean War
  3. Allied Veterans who served with the Allied Forces during the Second World War or the Korean War

FINANCIAL CRITERIA AND “MATTER OF RIGHT”

Once the Veteran has met the service-related criteria, eligibility for funeral and burial benefits is established either through financial means testing to determine financial need or as a matter of right. Matter-of-right refers to a situation where a VAC medical authority determines that the cause of death is due to service, meaning a condition for which Veterans Affairs Canada provided a disability benefit.

TYPES OF ARRANGEMENTS

Depending on circumstances, assistance may be provided in one of two ways:

LPF makes the arrangements: Standard funeral services may be provided when the Last Post Fund is contacted, and eligibility determined before firm arrangements are made with a funeral home. In this case, the Last Post Fund will contract directly with the funeral home within the maximum amounts set out in the Veterans Burial Regulations.

Family / Estate makes the arrangements: When arrangements for funeral and burial are made by a Veteran’s estate, family or another person/organization, an application for reimbursement (partial or full) may be made within one year. This reimbursement is subject to the amounts set out in the Veterans Burial Regulations.

SERVICES PROVIDED

Assistance toward funeral and burial expenses is calculated in accordance with the amounts determined in the Veterans Burial Regulations. The current maximum rate payable toward funeral home costs such as professional services, casket or urn is $7376 + tax. Over and above this amount, the cost of a plot, cemetery charges for opening and closing, the cost of cremation and other related costs may also be covered (maximums apply).

APPLY FOR FUNERAL AND BURIAL BENEFITS

Apply Online: An Online Form may be used to supply preliminary information and initiate the application process. Once submitted, a Last Post Fund counsellor will contact you.

Apply by Phone: Our counsellors are available to answer your questions and to assist with the application process, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm EST. Toll Free-800-465-7113

Email: General inquiries may be sent to info@lastpost.ca

Mailing Address Written inquiries may be sent to:
Last Post Fund | Fonds du Souvenir
#330 – 6600 Trans-Canada Hwy
Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 4S2

Please note To qualify for assistance under the Funeral and Burial Program, both service-related and financial eligibility criteria will be evaluated. Before approving assistance, the Last Post Fund will conduct a short interview with the Veteran’s next of kin, executor, or other responsible person to establish eligibility. When contacting the Last Post Fund to apply for assistance, we recommend you have a Veteran’s military service record and financial information on hand to facilitate the application process.

Please note there is a one-year time limit after the Veteran’s death to apply for assistance.