Grief and bereavement counseling is available through any Veterans Health Administration medical center to immediate family members of Veterans who die unexpectedly or while participating in a VA hospice or similar program, as long as the immediate family members had been receiving family support services in connection with or in furtherance of the Veteran’s treatment. In other cases, bereavement counseling is available to the Veteran’s legal guardian or the individual with whom the Veteran had certified an intention to live, as long as the guardian or individual had been receiving covered family support services. This bereavement counseling is of limited duration and may only be authorized up to 60 days. However, VA medical center directors have authority to approve a longer period of time when medically indicated. The Social Work Service at your closest VA Medical Center will have more information on accessing bereavement counseling services.
For more information, download – Wounded Warriors: Their Last Battle—Facilitators Guide for Bereavement Coordinators – from NHPCO’s We Honor Veterans website.
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