Title 46ShippingRelease 119-73

§11201 Eligibility for veterans’ burial and cemetery benefits

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part G— - Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief › Chapter CHAPTER 112— - MERCHANT MARINER BENEFITS › § 11201

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Counts the service of a person who has an honorable service certificate and who is not eligible for VA benefits under any other law as wartime active duty for VA burial benefits and for burial in national cemeteries. Only people with that certificate qualify. The responsible Secretary must pay back the Department of Veterans Affairs for any benefits it gives because of this. Benefits usually apply only to deaths after the date this chapter became law, but if a burial or columbarium placement happens after that date, national cemetery benefits may be provided even if the death was earlier, and certain additional burial benefits may apply.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §11201

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(a)(1)The qualified service of an individual referred to in paragraph (2) shall be considered to be active duty in the Armed Forces during a period of war for purposes of eligibility for benefits under the following provisions of title 38:
(A)Chapter 23 (relating to burial benefits).
(B)Chapter 24 (relating to interment in national cemeteries).
(2)Paragraph (1) applies to an individual who—
(A)receives an honorable service certificate under section 11203 of this title; and
(B)is not eligible under any other provision of law for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(b)The Secretary shall reimburse the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the value of benefits that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs provides for an individual by reason of eligibility under this section.
(c)(1)Benefits may be provided under the provisions of law referred to in subsection (a)(1) by reason of this chapter only for deaths occurring after the date of the enactment of this chapter.
(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), in the case of an initial burial or columbarium placement after the date of the enactment of this chapter, benefits may be provided under chapter 24 of title 38 by reason of this chapter (regardless of the date of death), and in such a case benefits may be provided under section 2306 of such title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The date of the enactment of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (c), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 105–368, which was approved Nov. 11, 1998.

Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “an individual” for “a person” wherever appearing.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 11201

Title 46Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73