Veterans Burial Benefits: What's Available and How to Apply

When you're navigating the loss of a veteran in your life or planning ahead to ease that burden for your family, you need clear answers, not bureaucratic confusion. This guide explains what VA burial benefits cover, who qualifies, and the exact steps to take.

Start Here: Find Your Path Quickly

If you need answers now, here's how to identify which benefits apply:

Burial in a VA national cemetery
VA covers the gravesite, opening and closing, and perpetual care at no cost. You arrange funeral home services, but the cemetery portion is free.

Burial in a private cemetery
You can still receive a government headstone or marker, burial flag, and Presidential Memorial Certificate. You may qualify for reimbursement through burial allowance programs.

State or tribal veterans cemetery
These supplement federal benefits, but eligibility rules, residency requirements, and fees differ by location. Contact the specific cemetery to confirm coverage.

VA burial benefits fall into three categories: burial location benefits (where the veteran is laid to rest), memorial items (headstone, flag, certificate), and cash allowances (reimbursements for costs VA doesn't pay directly).

What VA Provides: Direct Services vs. Reimbursements

Understanding what VA pays directly versus what you pay upfront prevents confusion during an already difficult time.

Burial in a VA National Cemetery

If your veteran is eligible and space is available, VA national cemeteries provide:

• Gravesite for casket or cremated remains
• Opening and closing of the grave
• Perpetual care of the gravesite
• Options including in-ground burial, columbarium niches, scatter gardens, and at some locations, green burial

What families arrange separately: Funeral home services, most transportation costs, and any additional ceremonies. Some transportation costs may be reimbursable in specific situations, particularly for service-connected deaths or if the veteran died in VA care.

Memorial Items at No Cost (All Cemeteries)

These benefits apply regardless of burial location:

Government headstone or marker
Choose upright granite or marble, flat granite/marble/bronze, or niche marker for columbarium. If you use a private marker, you can request a medallion instead.

U.S. burial flag
One flag per eligible veteran, requested from a VA regional office, national cemetery, or post office.

Presidential Memorial Certificate
A signed certificate honoring the veteran's service, provided at no cost.

Cash Allowances: How Reimbursement Works

These are reimbursements, not upfront payments. You pay funeral and burial costs first, then apply to VA for partial reimbursement if eligible.

Current maximum amounts for deaths on or after October 1, 2024:

• Non-service-connected death: Up to $978 for burial and funeral expenses, plus up to $978 for plot or interment allowance (if not buried in a VA national cemetery)
• Service-connected death (on or after September 11, 2001): Up to $2,000

These amounts adjust periodically based on cost-of-living changes. Verify current year rates before planning. Surviving spouses may receive automatic payment of the basic burial allowance when VA is notified of the death.

Who Qualifies for Benefits

Eligibility has specific criteria, but the core requirements are straightforward.

Veteran Eligibility

Discharge status: Must be under conditions other than dishonorable (exceptions exist for specific circumstances)

Service requirements: Generally, active duty service during specified wartime periods or certain peacetime service after April 6, 1917

Other qualifying situations: Died while receiving VA care, died while receiving VA-contracted care, or was entitled to receive VA compensation or pension

If you're unsure, the VA can determine eligibility. Fewer than half of eligible veterans currently use these benefits, often because families don't know they qualify or how to apply.

Spouses and Dependents

Spouses: The unmarried surviving spouse of an eligible veteran may qualify for burial in a VA national cemetery. Remarriage after October 31, 1990, may affect eligibility. Confirm directly with VA for your specific situation.

Dependents: Minor children and certain adult dependent children may be eligible for burial in a national cemetery alongside the veteran.

Special Situations

Unclaimed remains: VA has programs to ensure eligible veterans without family receive dignified burial.

Pre-deceased family members: In some cases, eligible spouses and dependents who die before the veteran can still be interred in a national cemetery.

Recent Benefit Expansions

VA benefits have grown to cover more expenses and situations.

Outer Burial Receptacle allowance
Starting in 2023, VA reimburses the cost of grave liners or vaults in some state and tribal veterans cemeteries ($400 for 2023 interments, $411 for 2024; 2025 amount pending Federal Register notice). This applies to casketed burials where the cemetery is VA grant-funded. Contact the cemetery directly or email VANCAOBRallowance@va.gov for details.

Transportation reimbursement expanded
VA now reimburses transportation costs to state and tribal veterans cemeteries in addition to national cemeteries, depending on circumstances.

Temporary hospice-at-home benefit
Veterans who die at home while receiving VA-provided hospice care after discharge from a VA medical or nursing facility may qualify for full burial allowances between July 1, 2025, and October 1, 2026. Contact your local VA office to confirm eligibility.

Filing deadlines clarified
Most non-service-connected burial benefits must be claimed within 2 years of burial or cremation. There is no time limit for service-connected deaths, veterans who died while hospitalized by VA, or certain transportation benefits. Verify your deadline before filing.

When a Veteran Dies: Your Action Plan

First 24 to 72 Hours

Locate documents
Find the DD-214 (discharge papers) and begin obtaining multiple certified copies of the death certificate. You'll also need marriage certificates for spouse benefits and dependent documentation if applicable.

Choose burial location
Follow the veteran's expressed wishes if available. Otherwise, consider distance for family, timing, and whether a national cemetery is preferred.

If using a VA national cemetery
Call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. They'll guide you through eligibility verification and scheduling.

Coordinate the Burial

Your funeral home, the cemetery scheduling office, and VA claims intake each play specific roles. Funeral homes familiar with veterans' services can help coordinate honors and paperwork. Keep copies of everything submitted.

The scheduling office confirms eligibility and sets the burial date once you provide the DD-214 and other required documents.

Create a Record Packet

Keep these items in one folder:

• Certified death certificates (multiple copies)
• DD-214 or equivalent service documentation
• All receipts and invoices (itemized)
• Proof of payment (canceled checks, credit card statements, funeral home paid statement)
• Names, phone numbers, and email addresses of all contacts
• Any correspondence or confirmation numbers from VA

How to Schedule National Cemetery Burial

Verify Eligibility at Time of Need

The National Cemetery Scheduling Office verifies eligibility using the veteran's discharge papers. Each cemetery offers different options (in-ground burial, columbarium niches, or scattering gardens), so ask what's available at your preferred location.

The Scheduling Process

Call 1-800-535-1117. Have ready:

• Veteran's full name, Social Security number, dates of birth and death
• Your contact information as next of kin
• Funeral home name and phone number
• Preferred burial dates (flexibility helps with availability)

The office will confirm how to submit documents by fax (866-900-6417) or email (NCA.Scheduling@va.gov) and coordinate with your funeral home for transportation and honors timing.

Plan Ahead with Pre-Need Eligibility

Veterans can apply in advance to confirm eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery using Form 40-10007. This determination (done online at VA.gov or by mail) does not reserve a specific gravesite but eliminates uncertainty for your family later. It's free and takes the guesswork out of planning.

How to Apply for Burial Allowance Reimbursement

Who Can File

The surviving spouse, child, parent, or executor of the veteran's estate can apply. In some cases, a funeral home that handled arrangements for an unclaimed veteran may file. Surviving spouses often receive automatic payment of the basic allowance when VA is notified of the death.

Form and Submission

Use VA Form 21P-530EZ (online at VA.gov or by mail). Submit within the required timeframe. For non-service-connected deaths, this is generally 2 years from burial or cremation. There is no time limit for service-connected deaths or for veterans who died while in VA care.

Required Documents

• Certified copy of the death certificate
• DD-214 or other discharge documentation
• Itemized funeral and burial receipts
• Proof of payment for those expenses
• Documentation of plot or interment costs if claiming that allowance
• Transportation receipts if applicable

Avoid These Common Mistakes

• Missing or incomplete discharge papers
• Non-itemized bills that don't show specific services
• Unclear proof of who paid the expenses
• Waiting too long to request certified copies of documents
• Confusing the burial scheduling process with the reimbursement claim

How to Request Memorial Items

Headstone, Marker, or Medallion

Apply online through the VA portal or submit VA Form 40-1330. There's no cost. Processing times vary based on workload and cemetery requirements. Style and material options must sometimes match existing monuments at the cemetery, especially in national and state veterans cemeteries.

Burial Flag

Request one flag per eligible veteran from a VA regional office, national cemetery director, or U.S. post office.

Presidential Memorial Certificate

Request through VA at no cost. The certificate is typically presented to the next of kin at burial or mailed afterward.

State and Tribal Benefits

State and tribal veterans cemeteries supplement federal benefits, sometimes offering free or low-cost burial for veterans and families. Rules vary significantly:

Residency requirements: Many states require the veteran to have entered service from that state or lived there for a specified period.

Fee structures: Some charge interment fees for spouses or dependents; others are fully funded.

Stacking benefits: Federal and state benefits can often be combined, but you must follow each program's rules.

Examples: New York offers a $6,000 burial benefit for qualifying veterans. California and Texas have extensive state cemetery networks with their own eligibility guidelines.

Contact your state Department of Veterans Affairs or county veterans service office for current details.

Questions to Ask When You Call

When contacting VA, the cemetery, or your funeral home, ask:

• Can you confirm the veteran's eligibility based on the DD-214 I have?
• What burial options are available at this cemetery (in-ground, cremation niche, scatter garden)?
• Which costs are covered at no charge, and which will I need to pay upfront?
• What documents do you need, and how should I submit them (fax, email, mail)?
• If I'm filing for reimbursement, what is the current deadline for my situation?
• Are there any state or tribal benefits I should also apply for?
• Who will be my main point of contact throughout this process?

Common Questions Answered

Is burial in a national cemetery free?
Yes, if the veteran is eligible and space is available. VA covers the gravesite, opening and closing, and perpetual care. You arrange and pay for funeral home services.

Does VA pay the funeral home directly?
No. You pay funeral and burial costs first, then apply for reimbursement allowances. Payment flows through you.

Can cremated remains be buried in a national cemetery?
Yes. National cemeteries offer in-ground cremation burial, columbarium niches, and scatter gardens at no cost for eligible veterans and qualified family members.

Can a spouse or dependent be buried in a national cemetery?
Eligible spouses and dependent children may qualify, even if they predecease the veteran or if the veteran is not buried there. Remarriage rules apply. Confirm with VA.

If we choose a private cemetery, do we lose all VA benefits?
No. You can still receive a government headstone or medallion, burial flag, Presidential Memorial Certificate, and possibly burial and plot allowances.

How long do we have to apply?
Most non-service-connected burial benefits must be claimed within 2 years of burial or cremation. There is no time limit for service-connected deaths, veterans who died in VA care, or certain transportation reimbursements. Verify your specific deadline with VA.

What if we can't find the DD-214?
Request a copy through the National Archives or VA. The process takes time, so start immediately. Some veterans organizations can help expedite this.

Does Arlington National Cemetery work the same way?
No. Arlington has separate eligibility and scheduling processes. Contact Arlington directly.

Your Next Steps

You don't have to navigate this alone. Take these actions:

Decide your burial location
Choose national, state/tribal, or private cemetery and call the appropriate scheduling office.

Gather and organize documents
Keep DD-214, death certificate, and receipts in one place.

Verify your specific situation
Contact VA at 1-800-827-1000 or through the VA.gov burials portal to confirm deadlines and eligibility.

Pre-need eligibility determination and clear records eliminate guesswork when the time comes. These benefits exist because your veteran's service earned them. Asking questions and confirming details ensures nothing is missed.

Official Resources

VA Burials & Memorials hub: va.gov/burials-memorials

Schedule burial or ask eligibility questions: 1-800-535-1117 (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET)

General VA assistance: 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411)

Apply for burial allowance: VA Form 21P-530EZ at va.gov/burials-memorials/apply-form-21p-530ez

Pre-need eligibility (Form 40-10007): va.gov/burials-memorials/pre-need-eligibility

Request headstone/marker/medallion: VA Form 40-1330 or online portal at va.gov/burials-memorials/memorial-items/headstones-markers

Find your state Department of Veterans Affairs: Search "[Your State] Department of Veterans Affairs" and verify the website ends in .gov