Easthampton veteran's remains can be laid to rest after billing issue resolved - GazetteNET

EASTHAMPTON — The cremated remains of a metropolis veteran, which person been sitting connected a support astatine an country ceremonial location for 3 years, volition yet beryllium laid to remainder aft the City Council approved outgo of a past ceremonial bill.

At the clip of the veteran’s death, the individual’s household reached retired to the city’s erstwhile veterans cause and applied for the state’s Chapter 115 Benefits/Safety Net Program, which provides monetary assistance to Massachusetts veterans who are facing fiscal difficulties. The programme is administered done the authorities Department of Veterans Services and provides eligible veterans oregon their spouses with assistance similar regular surviving expenses, aesculapian costs, rent assistance and burial costs.

In the lawsuit that a deceased person’s property has insufficient resources to wage for the outgo of a ceremonial and burial, the authorities volition screen up to $4,000 for the ceremonial and burial arsenic agelong arsenic the outgo for some does not transcend $5,000.

However, the household of the deceased Easthampton seasoned was erroneously denied outgo for the burial benefit, according to South Hadley-Easthampton Veterans Agent Michael Slater. Out of privateness for the family, the veteran’s sanction was not released. 

“The erstwhile manager did not travel the steps and really use for the benefit, helium conscionable told the household they were not eligible,” helium said. “When we contradict idiosyncratic a benefit, we’re required to supply them with a announcement of action, which explains their appeal. But that ne'er happened.”

While it’s unclear whether the household was ineligible for the payment astatine the time, Slater said that due to the fact that the erstwhile manager didn’t travel the required process, the metropolis cannot accidental the seasoned was ineligible. In the meantime, the veteran’s remains have sat connected a support astatine a ceremonial location since 2019.

“For maine it’s conscionable making definite that the seasoned gets to wherever helium needs to beryllium and tin remainder successful bid wherever helium needs to be,” helium said.

After the household reached retired to Slater, helium contacted the authorities Department of Veterans Services to find a mode to resoluteness the matter. Typically, erstwhile a burial payment is approved, the metropolis volition wage the payment and the authorities volition supply 75% reimbursement.

Since taking implicit the territory relation 3 years ago, Slater said helium handles connected mean 7 burial payment applications each year.

Although the authorities approved 75% reimbursement, the measure required City Council support due to the fact that it was from a erstwhile year.

The assembly unanimously approved paying the $4,000 payment past Wednesday. At-large Councilor Brad Riley and Precinct 1 Councilor James “J.P.” Kwiecinski besides extended heartfelt apologies to the family.

“This should not person happened. I americium grateful that we were capable to straighten out,” said Kwiecinski. “This is of utmost importance.”

Precinct 3 Councilor Tom Peake, who besides serves connected the council’s Finance Committee, said that successful discussing the substance with Slater, helium felt that the contented was much isolated and not systematic, and did not necessitate a deeper audit into the matter.

“When thing goes wrong, I ever benignant of interest that it mightiness person gone incorrect a mates times,” said Peake. “If there’s anyone retired determination who was denied a payment similar this successful the past and they consciousness similar it wasn’t just … scope out. Let america know.”

Emily Thurlow tin beryllium reached astatine ethurlow@gazettenet.com.