Life insurance and burial benefits for Pennsylvania veterans

Military life insurance is federal, so the options are the same in every state: convert SGLI to VGLI after separation, apply for VALife if you have a service-connected rating, or buy private coverage. Healthy veterans often compare VGLI against private term life, since VGLI rates rise every five years.

VA national cemeteries

• Indiantown Gap National Cemetery — Annville
• National Cemetery of the Alleghenies — Bridgeville
• Washington Crossing National Cemetery — Newtown
• Philadelphia National Cemetery (closed to new burials) — Philadelphia

State veterans cemeteries

• Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Home Cemetery — Erie

Burial in a VA national cemetery, a government headstone or marker, and a burial flag are available to eligible veterans at no cost; see VA burial benefits for current allowances. Source: VA National Cemetery Administration – Find a Cemetery: Pennsylvania (national and VA grant-funded)

Wartime veterans rated 100% permanently service-connected disabled (or totally disabled due to individual unemployability, service-connected blindness, paraplegia, or loss of two or more limbs) who show financial need may be exempt from real estate taxes on their primary home; income of $114,637 or less is presumed to show need. Apply through your County Director of Veterans Affairs. Source: Pennsylvania DMVA – Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption

Veterans Temporary Assistance provides up to $1,600 in a 12-month period to Pennsylvania veterans and unmarried surviving spouses facing a temporary hardship, for food, shelter, fuel, and clothing. Source: Pennsylvania DMVA – Veterans Temporary Assistance

The Blind Veterans Pension pays $150 a month to veterans who were Pennsylvania residents when they entered the military and lost their vision from a service-connected injury or disease. Source: Pennsylvania DMVA – Blind Veterans Pension

For help applying, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.