Military Veterans Funeral Assistance Programs

As proud Canadians, we love to honour our country’s veterans. We want to do our part in helping those who dedicate their lives with selfless service to their country. We want to make veterans aware of the benefits available to them and are always here to help during the loss of a veteran or their families. 

The veteran death benefit is paid to the spouse or common-law partner and the dependent children of a member of the Canadian Armed Forces who died as a result of service.

Loss of a guardian/spouse while in the service has many difficulties. The objective of the veteran death benefit is to help the families of veterans by removing/reducing financial strain.

The death benefit is a one-time, tax-free amount (current as of June 2021) of $385,091.61

Payment of the death benefit requires certain criteria to be valid. Death must be the result of a service-related injury or disease. With disease, the death must occur within 30 days of contracting the disease. For a death after 30 days of contracting disease, support is provided by the Disability Benefits instead.

The survivor of a deceased member of the Canadian Armed Forces must have been a spouse or common-law partner residing/cohabiting with the CAF member during the time of death.

To be the child of the deceased CAF member, the child must be any of:

1. under 18 years of age or
2. under 25 years of age and attending school or
3. Physically or mentally incapacitated and incapable of earning a living

And, living in the home of the CAF member. 

The Funeral and Burial Assistance program provides funds to pay for a dignified funeral service in addition to military gravestones for veterans. 

To qualify for the assistance due to military service, the veteran must be:

1. A former member of the Canadian Armed Forces or any predecessor naval, army or air forces, or
2. A Canadian Merchant Navy Veteran of the Second World War or Korena war, or
3. An allied Veteran who served with the Allied Forces during the Second World War or the Korean War who has lived in Canada for at least 10 years or lived in Canada prior to enlisting and lived in Canada at their time of death.

A deceased veteran who received disability benefit from veteran affairs Canada and dies due to service-related disability can also qualify.

Eligibility for financial assistance is also financially means tested by assessment at the deceased’s time of death. Based on the assessment, the full or partial coverage of costs will be determined.

Up to date actual values for the financial eligibility criteria can be found on the veteran’s affairs website.

The maximum rate payable toward funeral home costs is $7376 + tax.

Assistance cover can be applied to any of the following funeral services/materials:

• Medical costs not paid by the Minister, health insurance or provincial healthcare.
• Preparation of remains
• Casket/Urn
• Ceremonial Services
• Death Notices
• Transport of remains
• Single Grave plus “reasonable” opening and closing
• Grave Liner
• Cremation
• Military style grave marker

An application for assistance can only be approved following the death of an eligible veteran.