On your first question, concerning death benefits, the veteran's service will determine the amount of the death benefits a family receives. If the veteran had a service-related disability for which he was receiving benefits and he died from that particular disability, then his spouse specifically, and his child also, can be entitled to dependency indemnity compensation. The current rates for a spouse who is receiving dependency indemnity compensation are $1,154 a month; if it's a child, it's $488 a month. If the veteran did not die of a service-related condition, the spouse may be eligible for death pension, but again it is an income-based benefit, so they also have to meet the income threshold to be eligible.
We also offer a plot allowance of $300 that can be paid to the family to help cover costs of burial. If the veteran died from a service-related disability, that burial benefit can be up to $2,000; that is a one-time payment to cover expenses.