Okaloosa County: Checking Veteran Status Before an Indigent Cremation
Before Okaloosa County cremates an unclaimed or indigent person at public expense, its policy has staff check with Social Security, the county Veteran Services department and the VA Gulf Coast system whether the person was a veteran, a spouse or a dependent child entitled to burial in a national cemetery, and arrange that burial instead.
Also called: unclaimed remains, indigent burial, cremation, national cemetery, chapter 406, 38 CFR, county disposition.
For: Veteran or service member, spouse, child, survivor.
Chapter 406 of the Florida Statutes charges every county with disposing of unclaimed and indigent bodies. Okaloosa County's Disposition of Deceased Unclaimed Indigent Policy and Procedure, in the Board's records from January 2023, sets out how it does so, by direct cremation through a contracted local funeral home.
The veteran check. Staff must make a reasonable effort to find out whether the person was a veteran of the armed forces, the reserves or the National Guard entitled to burial in a national cemetery, and if so arrange that burial under VA's rules. The policy names three steps: ask the Social Security office whether it has records of veteran status; send the name, date of birth and Social Security number to the county's Veteran Services department; and if neither confirms it, call the VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System (228-523-5122), which may also help find next of kin.
Who is not cremated by the county. Among the exceptions, a person who was a veteran eligible for a national cemetery, or the spouse or dependent child of one, and a person whose relatives, fraternal society or care agency claim the body.
A family that cannot pay for a veteran's funeral should also contact Veteran Services (850-651-7258) about VA burial benefits.
Thresholds
Thresholds for Okaloosa County: Checking Veteran Status Before an Indigent Cremation
Gate
Rule
Unclaimed or indigent deceased veterans and families
For a deceased veteran, spouse or dependent child eligible for a national cemetery. No rating is needed.
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Disclaimer
VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.