A&A surviving spouse passed before receiving benefits due

[sdsjk]

Hi all, my mother (surviving spouse) passed before receiving A&A benefits that we applied for.  The VA letter reads, "Based on this notice we stopped processing her claim for VA benefits...Our records show one or more VA payments were due to (my mom) prior to death. We
can use these amounts to reimburse the person who paid the expense of the last illness and burial, or the person who is responsible for payment."  All her children are 40+ years old so I think we can only receive reimbursement for funeral expenses & possibly medical?  They included forms 21-601-ARE & 21-4138-are.  Can we be reimbursed for medical costs & funeral?  Up to what amount?  Any direction or tips are greatly appreciated.  God Bless, John

[vetadmin]

The person who made the payments would have to claim against the accrued benefits.  The amount would be up to whatever she was entitled to and never received.  You can only claim what was an out of pocket expense.