Vermont § 2301 - Burial responsibility

§ 2301. Burial responsibility

• (a)(1) When a person dies in this State, or a resident of this State dies within the State
  or elsewhere, and the decedent was a recipient of assistance under Title IV or XVI
  of the Social Security Act, nursing home care under Title XIX of the Social Security
  Act, or assistance under State aid to the aged, blind, or disabled, or an honorably
  discharged veteran of any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to the extent funds are
  available and to the extent authorized by Department rules, the decedent’s burial
  shall be arranged and paid for by the Department if the decedent was without sufficient
  known assets to pay for burial. The Department shall pay burial expenses for individuals
  who meet the requirements of this section in an amount not to exceed a maximum established
  by rule and shall establish by rule a process for reducing the maximum payment amount
  by the amount of other assets available from the decedent’s estate or from the decedent’s
  spouse to pay for the burial. The maximum payment by the Department does not preclude
  other individuals from paying for or receiving contributions to pay for additional
  disposition expenses. (2) The Department shall notify the directors of all funeral homes within the State and
  within close proximity to the State’s borders of its rules with respect to those services
  for which it pays and the amount of payment authorized for those services. All payments
  shall be made directly to the appropriate funeral director. In order to receive payment
  under this section, the funeral director shall provide the Department and the party
  making the funeral arrangements with an itemized invoice for the specific services
  that are to be provided at public expense. (3) As a condition of payment when arrangements are made other than by the Department,
  the funeral director shall determine from the person making the arrangements if the
  decedent was a recipient of assistance or an eligible veteran as specified in subdivision
  (1) of this subsection and, if the decedent was such a recipient, give notice to the
  person making the arrangements of the Department’s rules. (4) If the funeral home director does not advise the person making the arrangements of
  the Department’s rules, then that person shall not be liable for expenses incurred.