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burialstate

Burial at Public Expense — With a Statutory Cap of $55

Rhode Island law provides for the burial of a wartime veteran who dies within the state without means to defray funeral expenses: a council-designated person arranges it, or the family and friends who paid are reimbursed. Then read §30-25-4. THE STATUTORY CAP ON TOTAL FUNERAL EXPENSE IS $55. That figure has not been updated in living memory and it is current law, so the reimbursement route is close to worthless in practice — but the DUTY TO ARRANGE the burial is not capped in the same way, and that is the part to press. Claims must be made WITHIN 60 DAYS of death.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

Rhode Island law provides for the burial of a wartime veteran who dies within the state without means to defray funeral expenses: a council-designated person arranges it, or the family and friends who paid are reimbursed. Then read §30-25-4. THE STATUTORY CAP ON TOTAL FUNERAL EXPENSE IS $55. That figure has not been updated in living memory and it is current law, so the reimbursement route is close to worthless in practice — but the DUTY TO ARRANGE the burial is not capped in the same way, and that is the part to press. Claims must be made WITHIN 60 DAYS of death.

What it's worth: Burial arranged at public expense; the statutory reimbursement cap is $55

  • THE STATUTORY CAP ON TOTAL FUNERAL EXPENSE IS $55 under §30-25-4. This is antiquated but it is current law.
  • As a reimbursement that is close to worthless. As a DUTY TO ARRANGE the burial it is still worth invoking.
  • The veteran must have served DURING WARTIME, been honorably discharged, and DIED WITHIN RHODE ISLAND without sufficient means.
  • A COUNCIL-DESIGNATED PERSON arranges the burial; family or friends who paid may claim reimbursement.
  • CLAIMS WITHIN 60 DAYS OF DEATH.
  • Look to the federal VA burial allowance and to the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery first — both are worth far more.

Who is entitled to it

  • You are in one of the groups who can raise this.
  • The discharge was honorable.
  • The service was during wartime.
  • Death within Rhode Island.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

Deadline: Within 60 days of death
  1. 1Look first at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery and the federal VA burial allowance. Both are worth vastly more than this.
  2. 2If you still need it, contact the city or town council's designated person BEFORE arranging the funeral — the duty is to arrange, and that is worth more than the $55 reimbursement.
  3. 3Claim within 60 days of death. The window is short.
  4. 4Do not budget on the reimbursement. The statutory cap is $55 and has not been raised.
  5. 5Ask the council what it will actually pay for under the arrangement duty rather than the cap.
Form
Claim to the city or town council designee, within 60 days
File with
Your city or town council designee
Documents you will need
dd214
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.
CorrectionA $55 cap on a funeral is not a benefit anyone should plan around, and we would rather say so than let the existence of a statute imply real help. The arrangement duty is the usable part; the money is not.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.