Death & Disability Benefits, Programs & Services Guide
Section 23: Funeral and Burial Expenses

References: CBI 210.20

General

The overall co-ordination of funeral and burial arrangements of currently serving members on paid service, in accordance with the wishes of the1 executor or personal representative named in the will, and consistent with current regulations and orders, is usually the responsibility of the unit.

Eligibility for Funeral and Burial Expenses

Funeral and burial expenses for currently serving members on paid service (Regular Force, Class "B", "C" Reservists and Class "A" Reservists on paid service) will be defrayed by the Department of National Defence (DND) up to the limits outlined in regulations, as shown in the table that follows. Any which are outside the authorized spending limits, will be borne by the person entitled to the remains. A member who dies while on LWOP (Leave without pay), other than maternity or parental leave, or is absent without authority for a period of 21 days or longer, is not entitled to this benefit unless the Chief of Defence Staff so directs under special circumstances.

Temporary Grave Marker

As some time must elapse before a permanent headstone can be erected, the CO shall, subject to the wishes of the person entitled to the remains, place on the grave, as soon as possible after interment, a temporary wooden marker showing the Service Number, rank, initials, surname, Branch or Regiment, date of death, and age of the deceased member. Photographs of the grave should be forwarded to the person entitled to the remains.

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Administration

DCSM - The Centre administers funeral expenses, family travel expenses and headstones. Please contact DCSM - The Centre at 613-995-1457 or 1-800-883-6094.

FUNERAL AND BURIAL EXPENSES

Funeral and burial expenses for currently serving members will be paid by DND up to the limits outlined in regulations as detailed below. Any extra or higher costs will be borne by the estate.

The set rate of $13,005 (exclusive of the Goods and Services Tax and Provincial Sales Tax) will be adjusted annually, on April 1, to allow for a cost of living adjustment based on Consumer Price Index for the previous calendar year.

Funeral Service Charge - Allowable charge to public (Always confirm amounts)

  1. Burial and Funeral Service, including cremation - $13,005:
    1. Casket or Urn;
    2. Funeral Director Fees and Services (such as Funeral Director's professional services, support staff services, registration and documentation, embalmer's professional services, use of the funeral home;
    3. Limousine and hearse rental;
    4. Church rental, or other rental facility and equipment, including seating attendants;
    5. Interment;
    6. Scattering of ashes;
    7. Niche in a columbarium (including perpetual care of the niche);
    8. Bulletins, obituaries and other death noticesi. A clergy, including costs of considerations related to religious groups that may not make up the majority of serving members;
    9. An organist or other musician;
    10. Flowers, photos, register books, a memorial video/CD; and
    11. Reception.
  2. Cemetery plot - prevailing rates:
    1. Permanent single plot;
    2. Permanent single plot for the burial of ashes when cremation elected; and
    3. Opening and closing the grave and perpetual care.
  3. Special casket (oversized or hermetically sealed) - prevailing rates:
    1. Type of casket required by provincial or other laws regarding shipment of remains; and
    2. DCSM is the authority for reimbursement with the CO's certification, based on MO's recommendation that this type of casket was warranted.
  4. Transportation of remains (at the request of the person entitled to the remains) - prevailing rates:
    1. If at the request of the person entitled to the remains, the burial is to be in a place other than the place of death, actual  transportation costs may be reimbursed in addition to the costs at  para 5 of \CBI 210.20  under the following circumstances:
      • When the member is away from their parent unit, transportation back to the parent unit and then to the place of burial;
      • From the place of death to the place of burial; and
      • From the place of death to the nearest crematorium for cremation and then the transportation of the ashes to the place of burial.
    2. Special provisions made or required by the carrier for the transportation of the remains shall be included in the actual cost of the transportation.
  5. DND Headstone or marker - prevailing rates:
    1. When the person entitled to the remains does not wish to place a DND headstone, provided by the Last Post Fund (LPF), DND will defray a part of the cost of a private headstone, marker or memorial of an amount not to exceed $2,300.

1. The estate executor or personal representative named in the will of the deceased, rather than the NOK or other family members of the deceased, is responsible for making the funeral arrangements. If there is no executor or personal representative, then the NOK has the right to make the funeral arrangements.