Organization	Organization Type	Phone Number	Website	Description
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – National Cemetery Administration	Federal	800.535.1117	VA Burial and Memorial Benefits	Coordinates burial in VA national cemeteries and provides eligible Veterans and families with burial and memorial benefits
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Veterans Benefits Administration	Federal	800.827.1000	VA Burial Benefits	Provides burial allowances and assistance with burial flags, headstones, markers, and other memorial benefits
Social Security Administration	Federal	800.772.1213	Social Security Death Benefits	Provides eligible surviving spouses or children with a one-time lump-sum death payment and potential survivor benefits
Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs	State	800.437.9824	IDVA Survivor and Burial Services	Helps Veterans and survivors identify and apply for federal, state, and county burial benefits
Illinois Department of Human Services – Funeral & Burial Benefits Program	State	800.843.6154	IDHS Funeral and Burial Benefits	Provides funeral and burial reimbursement assistance when available resources are below state payment standards
Illinois Attorney General – Crime Victims Compensation Program	State	800.228.3368	Crime Victim Compensation	Reimburses eligible families for funeral and burial costs resulting from qualifying violent crimes
Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office	County	312.666.0500	Cook County Indigent Cremation Services	Provides final disposition services for qualifying indigent, unclaimed, and unidentified decedents
City of Chicago – Emergency Supplemental Victims’ Fund	Chicago	312.747.9884	Emergency Supplemental Victims’ Fund	Provides eligible Chicago families affected by homicide with emergency assistance for funeral and burial expenses
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago	Nonprofit	312.655.7700	Catholic Charities Burial Assistance	Provides qualifying low-income families with financial assistance toward funeral and burial expenses
The TEARS Foundation	Nonprofit	253.200.0944	TEARS Foundation Funeral Assistance	Provides financial assistance toward funeral and memorial expenses following the death of a baby or child, subject to program availability

 

 

For more information on these individual programs and services, including basic documentation and qualification criteria, please continue reading below.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – National Cemetery Administration

Administers burial and memorial benefits for eligible Veterans, service members, and qualifying family members. The NCA coordinates burial in one of the VA's national cemeteries and provides eligible individuals with a gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate at no cost. The administration also assists families with determining burial eligibility and scheduling interment.

Basic Eligibility:

• Eligible Veterans with qualifying military service and an other than dishonorable discharge
• Certain eligible spouses and dependent children
• Eligibility is determined under VA burial regulations

Common Documentation Requested:

• DD-214 or other military discharge documents
• Death certificate
• Government-issued Photo ID
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Dependent documentation (if applicable)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Veterans Benefits Administration

Administers financial burial and memorial benefits for eligible Veterans and their families. Depending on eligibility, the VBA may reimburse certain funeral and burial expenses, provide plot or interment allowances, furnish government headstones or markers, issue burial flags, and coordinate Presidential Memorial Certificates. Benefit amounts and eligibility vary depending on the Veteran's service history and the circumstances surrounding the Veteran's death.

Basic Eligibility:

• Surviving family members or individuals who paid funeral expenses for an eligible Veteran
• Veteran must meet VA burial benefit eligibility requirements
• Some benefits require the Veteran not to have received certain other burial benefits

Common Documentation Requested:

• DD-214
• Death certificate
• Funeral home invoices
• Cemetery receipts
• Proof of payment
• Government-issued Photo ID

Social Security Administration – Survivor Benefits

Provides survivor benefits to eligible family members following the death of an individual who paid into Social Security. Eligible spouses, children, and certain dependent family members may qualify for monthly survivor benefits, while qualifying spouses or children may also receive a one-time lump-sum death payment. Benefit eligibility is based on the deceased individual's work history and the survivor's relationship to the deceased.

Basic Eligibility:

• Eligible surviving spouse
• Eligible dependent children
• Certain dependent parents in limited circumstances
• Deceased individual must have earned sufficient Social Security work credits

Common Documentation Requested:

• Death certificate
• Social Security numbers
• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Government-issued Photo ID
• Banking information for direct deposit

Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs – Survivor and Burial Services

Assists Veterans and surviving family members with identifying and applying for available federal, state, county, and local burial benefits. The department provides guidance on eligibility, application assistance, and referrals to the appropriate agencies administering burial and memorial programs. IDVA does not administer every burial benefit directly but serves as a resource for navigating available programs.

Basic Eligibility:

• Veterans and their surviving family members
• No eligibility requirements to receive information or application assistance
• Individual benefit programs maintain their own eligibility requirements

Common Documentation Requested Later by Benefit Programs:

• DD-214
• Death certificate
• Government-issued Photo ID
• Funeral invoices
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)

Illinois Department of Human Services – Funeral & Burial Benefits Program

Administers the Funeral and Burial Benefits Program for individuals whose funeral expenses cannot be covered through available financial resources. The program reimburses approved funeral and burial costs up to state-established payment limits for eligible deceased individuals receiving qualifying public assistance or meeting financial eligibility standards. Assistance is provided directly to funeral providers when program requirements are met.

Basic Eligibility:

• Deceased individual meets Illinois financial eligibility requirements
• Available assets and responsible relatives are insufficient to pay funeral expenses
• Funeral services meet IDHS program requirements

Common Documentation Requested:

• Death certificate
• Funeral contract
• Funeral invoices
• Financial records
• Government-issued Photo ID
• Asset and income documentation

Illinois Attorney General – Crime Victims Compensation Program

Provides financial reimbursement to eligible victims of violent crime and their families for expenses resulting from a qualifying criminal offense. Eligible funeral and burial expenses may be reimbursed when the death resulted directly from a violent crime and all statutory requirements are met. The program is intended to reduce the financial burden on families affected by violent criminal acts.

Basic Eligibility:

• Death resulted from a qualifying violent crime
• Crime was reported to law enforcement
• Claim filed within applicable deadlines (unless exceptions apply)
• Applicant meets program requirements

Common Documentation Requested:

• Police report
• Death certificate
• Funeral invoices
• Receipts
• Government-issued Photo ID
• Proof of relationship to the deceased

Cook County Medical Examiner's Office – Indigent Cremation Services

For qualifying deceased individuals whose remains are unclaimed or whose families are unable to arrange final disposition. The office coordinates cremation services in accordance with Illinois law after all reasonable efforts have been made to identify or locate next of kin. Services are intended as a last-resort option when no other arrangements are available.

Basic Eligibility:

• Deceased individual qualifies as indigent, unclaimed, or unidentified
• Final disposition falls under the jurisdiction of the Cook County Medical Examiner
• Requirements established by Cook County and Illinois law are met

Common Documentation Requested (When Applicable):

• Government-issued Photo ID
• Death certificate
• Proof of relationship to the deceased
• Financial information
• Documentation requested by the Medical Examiner

City of Chicago – Emergency Supplemental Victims' Fund

Provides emergency financial assistance to families impacted by homicide within the City of Chicago. Assistance may help offset funeral and burial expenses during the immediate aftermath of a violent crime while families pursue longer-term compensation through other available programs. Funding availability and assistance amounts may vary.

Basic Eligibility:

• Family affected by a homicide occurring within the City of Chicago
• Applicant meets City program requirements
• Assistance subject to available funding

Common Documentation Requested:

• Police report
• Death certificate
• Funeral invoices
• Government-issued Photo ID
• Proof of relationship to the deceased

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago – Burial Assistance

Provides limited financial assistance to qualifying individuals and families who are unable to afford funeral or burial expenses. Assistance is based on financial need, available funding, and program availability, and may include referrals to additional community resources when direct financial assistance is unavailable. Services are offered regardless of religious affiliation in many cases.

Basic Eligibility:

• Individuals or families experiencing financial hardship
• Assistance subject to available funding
• Additional eligibility determined during intake

Common Documentation Requested:

• Government-issued Photo ID
• Funeral estimates or invoices
• Income verification
• Proof of residence
• Documentation demonstrating financial hardship

The TEARS Foundation – Funeral Assistance

Provides financial assistance to families who have experienced the death of a baby or child. Subject to available funding, the organization helps offset funeral, burial, cremation, and memorial expenses while also connecting families with grief support resources and community services. Assistance is provided through an application process and may vary by state and available funding.

Basic Eligibility:

• Death of an infant or child meeting program guidelines
• Applicant is the parent or legal guardian
• Assistance subject to available funding and program availability

Common Documentation Requested:

• Death certificate
• Funeral home estimate or invoice
• Government-issued Photo ID
• Proof of relationship to the child
• Financial information (when requested)