Request for Payment of Monetary Allowance for Outer Burial Receptacles

Section 2306(e) of title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.), authorizes VA to provide an outer burial receptacle for each new grave used for casketed remains in an open VA national cemetery. Section 2203 of Public Law 116-315, the “Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 amended section 2306(e) to expand VA’s authority to provide outer burial receptacles to include burials in cemeteries that are the subject of a grant to a State or Tribal Organization under 38 U.S.C. 2408. VA proposes to implement this authority in three ways: 1) by reimbursing States and Tribal Organizations for the cost of outer burial receptacles that are pre-placed as part of a new construction or expansion cemetery grant project, 2) by paying a monetary allowance to States and Tribal Organizations for the cost of outer burial receptacles that are placed at the time of interment, and 3) by paying an allowance to individuals who privately purchase an outer burial receptacle. VA already has the information required to provide reimbursement for OBRs that are placed as part of construction, so no information collection is required to issue payment. However, to issue payment of the monetary allowance to a State or Tribal Organization for OBRs placed at the time of interment, or to an individual for a privately purchased OBR VA needs information regarding the number of burials where such graveliners were used, and proof of purchase for privately purchased outer burial receptacles. The new form will provide the necessary information to issue payment and serves as a control tool allowing VA to ensure compliance with regulations.

The latest form for Request for Payment of Monetary Allowance for Outer Burial Receptacles expires 2027-10-31 and can be found here.