Pennsylvania § 15516 - Determining eligibility for interment benefits.

§ 15516. Determining eligibility for interment benefits.

(a) Proof required.--If application is made for a contribution toward the funeral expenses of a deceased serviceperson or the surviving spouse of a deceased serviceperson or for a memorial benefit under section 15513 (relating to memorial benefit), the county commissioners shall, before expending money, require proof of the following:

(1) The service of the deceased serviceperson that entitles the individual or the surviving spouse to the benefits under this subchapter. Proof shall be made by the production of:

(i) an honorable discharge or other official record showing service during a war in which the United States is or was engaged; or

(ii) records of the United States Department of Defense, or copies filed in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, showing the existence of a campaign or state or condition of war in which the United States participated and the service of the deceased serviceperson in a zone in which a campaign or state or condition of war existed.

(2) The death of the deceased serviceperson.

(3) In addition to paragraphs (1) and (2), for the interment of the surviving spouse of a deceased serviceperson, the death of the surviving spouse and the fact that the spouse was married to the deceased serviceperson at the time of the serviceperson's death and that the spouse has not since remarried.

(4) Except for individuals who do not have legal residence within this Commonwealth and who are entitled to any of the benefits under this subchapter, the legal residence within the county of the deceased serviceperson or of the surviving spouse of a deceased serviceperson, as the case may be.

(b) Documentation required.--Death shall, in all cases, be proven by a death certificate, if procurable, or by one of the following:

(1) Affidavit of one or more individuals personally acquainted with the deceased and the fact of the individual's death.

(2) Proof of the record of death kept by the attending physician.

(3) Proof of the record of interment kept by the funeral director.

(4) Records of the church burial association or cemetery company maintaining the graveyard, burial ground, cemetery or other interment site in which the deceased serviceperson was interred.

(c) Satisfaction of proof.--If proof required by this subchapter has been furnished to the county commissioners, no further proof of the facts shall be required in order to obtain any other benefit under this subchapter.