Funeral/Burial

The Board, under most circumstances, may pay up to $7,500 for the funeral, burial or memorial service of a deceased victim after other available sources of payment, if any, have been applied.

The Board can pay for most expenses related to a funeral, burial or memorial service of a deceased victim.

However the Board cannot pay for:

• Alcoholic beverages;
• Coroner's charges; (GC § 27472)
• Finance or interest charges or processing fees on a funeral/burial bill;
• Hospitality costs (banquets, family dinners, wakes or any other hospitality cost);
• Memorial services beyond those usual and customary within the culture of the deceased victim;
• A pre-purchased funeral or grave; or
• Telephone calls

The person responsible for paying for the victim's funeral arrangements should file the application for funeral and burial benefits. The Board cannot accept applications filed directly by a service provider such as a mortuary, funeral home, or cemetery (CCR § 649.2)

The VCP cannot pay the expenses of a person who is on felony probation, on parole, in jail or in prison. A person who is not a felon can be reimbursed for funeral expenses even though the victim was a felon.