KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The body of a U.S. Air Force veteran has remained at a Kissimmee funeral home for more than a month, as a government shutdown leaves his caregiver struggling to secure funeral benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Jim Brody died on October 4. Caregiver Leah Galbraith says she’s spent weeks trying to confirm his burial benefits, but can’t get clear answers due to agency slowdowns and confusion about the application process.
“He was a good person. He would give up his shirt for anybody,” Galbraith said. “It hurts me that he’s still not taken care of.”
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Galbraith says the VA never made clear that she had to file a separate online application for burial assistance, and the shutdown has only compounded her heartbreak.
“If I knew about an application, I would have done it right away,” she said.
News 6 helped Galbraith begin the online form, but VA representatives confirmed this week that some non-urgent applications are paused until the government reopens.
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What VA Services Are Still Covered
According to the VA’s official contingency plan, the following services are NOT impacted by the shutdown:
VA Medical Centers, outpatient clinics, and Vet Centers remain open and fully operational.
Existing VA benefits continue to be processed and delivered, including disability compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits.
Burials will proceed at national cemeteries, and existing applications for headstones, markers, and burial benefits will be processed.
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is still making decisions on veterans’ cases.
Primary call centers, the Veterans Crisis Line, Benefit Hotline, and National Cemetery Scheduling Office are open during posted hours.
Suicide prevention, homelessness services, and caregiver support continue as normal.
VA Services Impacted by the Shutdown
However, the VA has temporarily ceased or reduced the following:
New applications for pre-need burial in national cemeteries are not being processed.
No new Presidential Memorial Certificates are being printed.
No grounds maintenance or placement of permanent headstones at national cemeteries.
VA regional benefits offices are closed to in-person visits.
Transition program assistance and career counseling are unavailable.
Some VA hotlines, including the GI Bill line, are closed.
Public affairs outreach and some veteran communication efforts are paused.
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