# Automatic Burial Benefits for Previously Unestablished Surviving Spouses
> **US Department of Veterans Affairs** · Final rule. · Published 2018-08-13 · Effective 2018-08-13 · 83 FR 39886
## Document
- **Document number:** 2018-17274
- **Category:** va-other
- **Agency:** US Department of Veterans Affairs
- **Federal Register citation:** 83 FR 39886
- **CFR reference:** 38 CFR 3
- **Publication date:** 2018-08-13
- **Effective date:** 2018-08-13
## Abstract

This final rule amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulation governing persons who may receive VA burial benefits on behalf of a deceased veteran. As amended, the regulation reflects VA's current policy of paying an automatic burial benefit to surviving spouses who were not established in VA systems as a veteran's spouse at the time of the veteran's death. The intended effect of this amendment is to ensure that a veteran's surviving spouse receives burial benefits to which he or she is entitled at the earliest possible time.

## Source
- [Federal Register document](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/08/13/2018-17274/automatic-burial-benefits-for-previously-unestablished-surviving-spouses)
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