Veterans Cremation Discount: Details & Eligibility

The Simple Cremation offers a veterans discount on direct cremation to honor those who served. This page explains exactly who qualifies, what documents we need, and how our discount works alongside the burial benefits the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) already provides.

Who is eligible

The discount is available for any of the following:

• Veterans of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Space Force who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
• Members of the Reserves or National Guard with qualifying federal service.
• Members who died on active duty.
• Spouses and dependent children of an eligible veteran, in many cases.

What documents we need

The simplest proof of eligibility is a copy of the veteran's DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). If you cannot find the DD-214, a VA identification card, VA benefits letter, or honorable discharge certificate also works. If none of those are available, we can help the family request the DD-214 from the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis; this typically takes 1–2 weeks.

How the discount is applied

We apply the veterans discount as a flat reduction off our standard $800 direct cremation price. The discount is taken at the time of arrangement — there is no rebate or reimbursement process to deal with later. Call (303) 887-9233 for the current discounted rate; we keep it intentionally simple and will quote the exact figure on the first call.

VA burial benefits — separate from our discount

Eligible veterans are entitled to a number of federal burial benefits that are completely separate from anything The Simple Cremation provides. These include:

• Burial allowance. A partial reimbursement toward burial and funeral expenses, with higher amounts for service-connected deaths.
• Plot or interment allowance when the veteran is not buried in a national cemetery.
• Free burial in a VA national cemetery, including opening and closing of the grave, a grave liner, perpetual care, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
• Military funeral honors, including the playing of Taps and the folding and presentation of the burial flag, available regardless of where the burial takes place.

We coordinate directly with Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver and Pikes Peak National Cemetery near Colorado Springs for families who choose inurnment at a national cemetery. We prepare the cremated remains, transport them to the cemetery, and work with the cemetery scheduling office on your behalf.

How to claim your discount and benefits

1. Call us at (303) 887-9233. Mention you are arranging cremation for a veteran.
2. Send the DD-214 (or alternative proof) by email or text. We can also help locate it if needed.
3. We file the VA paperwork. If you would like, we can prepare and submit the federal burial allowance application and the inurnment scheduling request to the national cemetery.
4. We apply the discount to your final cremation invoice automatically.

Spouses and dependents

VA national cemetery inurnment is also available for the spouse of an eligible veteran and, in some cases, dependent children, at no cost. The veterans discount on our cremation services may also be extended to the spouse — call to confirm details for your specific situation.

Questions?

Rafael, our licensed funeral director, has helped many Colorado veteran families navigate these benefits. There is no charge to talk it through, and there is no obligation. Call (303) 887-9233 any time, day or night.