Veterans burial benefits are the cemetery, memorial, and cash benefits the Department of Veterans Affairs provides when an eligible veteran dies. They include a free gravesite in a VA national cemetery, a government headstone, a burial flag, military funeral honors, and, for some veterans, a burial allowance.
Quick answer: Most veterans without a dishonorable discharge can be buried in a VA national cemetery at no cost for the gravesite, opening and closing, headstone, and perpetual care. Cash allowances are narrower: up to $2,000 for a service-connected death on or after September 11, 2001, and, for deaths on or after October 1, 2026, $1,032 for burial plus $1,032 for a plot when a non-service-connected death meets VA’s conditions. Funeral home services and merchandise are paid by the family.
What Are Veterans Burial Benefits?
Veterans burial benefits fall into two groups. Memorial benefits, such as a national cemetery gravesite, headstone, flag, and honors, are available to most veterans who weren’t dishonorably discharged. Monetary benefits, the burial, plot, and transportation allowances, are paid only when the veteran’s death or circumstances meet specific VA rules.
Here’s what Department of Veterans Affairs burial benefits can include:
- A gravesite in any VA national cemetery with available space, plus opening and closing of the grave and perpetual care
- A government headstone, marker, or medallion, in a national cemetery or a private one
- A burial flag to drape the casket or accompany the urn
- A Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC), a signed certificate honoring the veteran’s service
- Military funeral honors, with at least two uniformed service members, Taps, and the folding and presentation of the flag
- A burial allowance, plot allowance, and transportation reimbursement, for eligible deaths
The gap families don’t expect
VA benefits are generous on the cemetery side and limited on the funeral side. A national cemetery burial can save a family thousands on a plot, opening and closing, and a headstone. But VA’s National Cemetery Administration is clear that anything obtained from a funeral home or cremation provider is at the family’s expense. That includes the funeral director’s services, embalming, the casket or urn, and the visitation.
The National Funeral Directors Association reports a 2023 median of $8,300 for a funeral with viewing and burial and $6,280 with cremation. Even a veteran who qualifies for the full non-service-connected allowance, $2,064 for deaths on or after October 1, 2026, leaves a family thousands short of a typical funeral bill. Our guide to average funeral costs breaks down where that money goes.
Do all veterans get free burial?
Most do, but not everyone gets a cash allowance. Burial in a VA national cemetery is generally open to veterans who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge, and the gravesite, opening and closing, and headstone come at no cost. VA’s regional office decides cases involving other-than-honorable, bad conduct, or undesirable discharges.
The burial allowance is a separate question. A veteran whose death wasn’t service-connected only qualifies if they died in VA care, were receiving or had a pending claim for VA compensation or pension, or met another condition VA lists. And free burial only applies at national cemeteries: a veteran buried in a private cemetery gets a free headstone or marker, but the family pays for the plot, unless a plot allowance applies, and for any setting fees.
Note: Veterans who died on active duty, while serving as a member of Congress, or while serving a federal prison sentence aren’t eligible for the burial allowance. Active-duty deaths are handled through separate military death benefits.
2026 VA Burial Allowance Rates
The VA burial allowance depends on whether the death was service-connected and on the date of death. For a service-connected death on or after September 11, 2001, VA pays up to $2,000. For an eligible non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026, VA pays $1,032 toward burial and funeral costs plus $1,032 for a plot.
Service-connected deaths
A death is service-connected when it results from a disability VA has linked to military service. In that case, VA pays up to $2,000 for deaths on or after September 11, 2001, and up to $1,500 for deaths before that date. If the veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, VA may also reimburse some or all of the cost of moving the remains there. There’s no time limit to file for a service-connected burial or transportation allowance.
Non-service-connected deaths
For a non-service-connected death, the veteran must have met at least one of these conditions at the time of death:
- Was receiving care at a VA facility or a VA-contracted facility
- Was traveling, with proper authorization and at VA’s expense, to or from an exam or treatment
- Had an original or reopened claim for VA compensation or pension pending that would have qualified before death
- Was receiving VA pension or compensation
- Was eligible for VA compensation or pension but received full military retirement or disability pay instead
When one applies, VA pays a burial allowance and a separate plot or interment allowance. The plot allowance generally applies when the veteran isn’t buried in a national cemetery, since a national cemetery gravesite is already free. Claims must usually be filed within 2 years after burial, but there’s no deadline if the veteran died in VA care or if you’re claiming only the plot or transportation allowance.
VA burial benefits for 100% disabled veterans
A veteran rated 100% disabled who was receiving VA compensation at death meets the “receiving VA compensation” condition, so the family can claim the non-service-connected allowances even if the death itself wasn’t caused by the rated condition. If the death was caused by a service-connected disability, the higher service-connected allowance of up to $2,000 applies instead. That’s why disabled veterans burial benefits often hinge on the cause of death listed on the death certificate.
Deaths in VA care and transportation costs
If the veteran was hospitalized by VA or in a VA-contracted nursing home at death, or died while traveling to VA-authorized care, VA may reimburse some or all of the cost of transporting the remains. You’ll need an itemized receipt in your name, and only costs you paid yourself count.
Veterans burial benefits for cremation
VA’s rate tables don’t change based on burial or cremation, so the same allowance amounts apply. Cremated remains are buried or inurned in national cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains, including a headstone or niche marker, a flag, and military funeral honors. Our comparison of cremation vs. burial shows how the two choices differ in total cost.
| Death classification | Burial allowance | Plot allowance | Total potential allowance |
| Service-connected, died on or after Sept. 11, 2001 | Up to $2,000 | Not paid separately | Up to $2,000, plus transportation to a national cemetery |
| Service-connected, died before Sept. 11, 2001 | Up to $1,500 | Not paid separately | Up to $1,500 |
| Non-service-connected, died on or after Oct. 1, 2026 | $1,032 | $1,032 | $2,064 |
| Non-service-connected, died Oct. 1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2026 | $1,002 | $1,002 | $2,004 |
| Non-service-connected, died Oct. 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2025 | $978 | $978 | $1,956 |
| Died in VA care or traveling to VA care | Rate by date above | Rate by date above | Plus possible transportation reimbursement |
Note: Surviving spouses already listed on the veteran’s VA profile don’t need to file for some benefits. VA says it automatically pays a set amount for the plot, interment, or transportation after it receives notice of death. If you’re not sure whether a payment is coming, call VA at 800-827-1000 before filing a duplicate claim.
National Cemeteries vs. Private Cemeteries
A VA national cemetery covers almost every cemetery cost at no charge. A private cemetery still gets a free government headstone or marker, a flag, and a PMC, but the family pays for the plot, unless a plot allowance applies, and for setting, placement, and maintenance fees.
What a VA national cemetery provides
Burial in a VA national cemetery includes, at no cost to the family:
- A gravesite in any national cemetery with available space
- Opening and closing of the grave
- Perpetual care of the gravesite
- A government headstone, marker, or medallion
- A burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate
The family still arranges and pays for funeral or cremation services through a funeral home. To schedule a burial, the funeral director or family calls the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET).
Burial in a private cemetery
Veterans buried in a private cemetery can still receive a government headstone, marker, or medallion at no cost, along with a burial flag and PMC. A veteran who died on or after November 1, 1990, may be eligible even if the grave already has a privately purchased headstone. Request a headstone or marker with VA Form 40-1330.
What VA doesn’t pay in a private cemetery: setting, placement, and maintenance fees, and other cemetery costs such as an additional gravesite. Ask the cemetery about those charges before you commit. Our guides to burial plot costs and the average cost of a headstone show what families typically spend.
Military funeral honors
By law, an eligible veteran’s honor detail includes at least two members of the armed forces, one of them from the veteran’s branch of service. At a minimum, the ceremony includes Taps, played by a bugler if one is available or a ceremonial bugle, and the folding and presentation of the flag to the next of kin. The funeral director usually requests honors; VA recommends contacting the service branch 48 to 72 hours before the service. Military OneSource can help at 800-342-9647.
Veterans spouse burial benefits
Spouses and dependents have strong rights in national cemeteries:
- Surviving spouses can be buried in a national cemetery with the veteran, including perpetual care, with their name and dates inscribed on the veteran’s headstone at no cost.
- Spouses who die first can still be buried in a national cemetery, since eligible spouses and dependents may be buried even if they predecease the veteran.
- Remarriage doesn’t end a surviving spouse’s eligibility, even if they remarried after the veteran’s death.
- Former spouses whose marriage ended in divorce or annulment aren’t eligible unless they’re veterans themselves.
- Minor children are eligible, even if the veteran died first.
- Unmarried adult dependent children may qualify in some cases, such as an adult child with a disability that began in childhood. VA decides these case by case.
In a private cemetery, spouses and dependents can’t receive their own government headstone, but they can be inscribed on the veteran’s headstone if they’d have been eligible for national cemetery burial. Request this in block 18 of VA Form 40-1330.
| Benefit | VA national cemetery | Private cemetery | Out-of-pocket risk |
| Gravesite | Free | Family buys, unless a plot allowance applies | High in private cemeteries |
| Opening and closing | Free | Family pays | Moderate |
| Perpetual care | Free | Often included in plot price or charged separately | Varies |
| Headstone, marker, or medallion | Free | Free from VA | Low |
| Setting and placement fees | None | Family pays | Moderate |
| Burial flag and PMC | Free | Free | None |
| Military funeral honors | Available | Available | None |
| Spouse burial | Free, same gravesite, inscription on headstone | Plot at family’s cost; inscription on veteran’s headstone | High in private cemeteries |
| Funeral home services | Family pays | Family pays | High in both |
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What the VA Does Not Cover
The VA doesn’t pay a funeral home directly, and it doesn’t cover funeral services or merchandise beyond what the cash allowances reimburse. Families should expect to pay most of the funeral home bill themselves, even when the burial itself is free.
Funeral home services
Anything arranged through a funeral home or cremation provider is the family’s expense, according to the National Cemetery Administration. That typically includes:
- The funeral director’s basic services fee
- Transferring the body to the funeral home, unless a VA transportation reimbursement applies
- Embalming and other preparation
- Use of the funeral home for a viewing, visitation, or service
- Staff for the service, and a hearse or other vehicles
- Cremation itself, when the family chooses it
Funeral merchandise and extras
VA also doesn’t provide:
- A casket or a cremation container for the service
- A burial vault or grave liner in a private cemetery
- Flowers, obituaries, printed programs, and memory books
- Limousines, receptions, and catering
- Travel for family members attending the service
- A plot in a private cemetery, beyond any plot allowance, plus setting and placement fees for the headstone
The allowances can be used toward some of these costs once the family has paid them, but they rarely cover the whole bill. The NFDA medians of $8,300 for a funeral with burial and $6,280 with cremation exclude cemetery costs and cash-advance items such as flowers and obituaries, so the real total is often higher. Our funeral cost breakdown and guide to funeral home costs itemize what’s on a typical bill.
Here’s a hypothetical example for a veteran whose non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026, qualifies for the full allowance, with burial in a national cemetery:
Funeral with viewing and burial (NFDA 2023 median): $8,300
National cemetery gravesite, opening/closing, marker: $0
VA burial allowance: -$1,032
Plot allowance (not paid; national cemetery is free): $0
Estimated family cost before flowers and extras: $7,268
If the same veteran were buried in a private cemetery, the plot allowance of $1,032 would apply, but the family would also pay for the plot, opening and closing, and headstone setting.
How final expense insurance fills the gap
Final expense insurance is a small whole life policy, usually with a death benefit sized to funeral costs. The beneficiary receives cash, typically within weeks of filing a claim, and can spend it on anything: the funeral home bill, a casket or urn, travel for family, or debts. Because VA reimburses only after the family pays, a policy can also cover costs upfront while a VA claim is pending.
For veterans, the right amount is usually the expected funeral cost minus whatever VA benefits are likely. Our guides to final expense whole life insurance and life insurance for veterans explain the options.
| Expense | Typical cost | Covered by VA? | What families can do |
| Funeral home services and staff | Part of the $8,300 NFDA median | No, except through allowances | Compare funeral home price lists |
| Embalming and viewing | Part of the median | No | Choose direct burial or cremation to lower costs |
| Casket or urn | Varies widely | No | Compare prices; you can supply your own casket or urn |
| National cemetery gravesite and marker | $0 | Yes | Request pre-need eligibility early |
| Private cemetery plot | Varies by cemetery | Plot allowance only, if eligible | Get quotes before the need arises |
| Headstone setting fees, private cemetery | Varies | No | Ask the cemetery for its fee schedule |
| Flowers, obituary, reception | Not in the NFDA median | No | Budget separately |
| Transportation of remains | Varies by distance | Sometimes | Keep itemized receipts in your name |
How to Apply for Veterans Burial Benefits
Most families need three things: the veteran’s discharge papers, a VA Form 21P-530EZ for any burial allowance, and a call to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office for national cemetery burial. Veterans can also apply for pre-need eligibility while they’re living, which makes the process much faster later.
Step 1: Find the DD-214
The DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, is the main proof of service and discharge type. If you can’t find it, veterans and next of kin can request military service records from the National Archives. Do this early, since record requests can take time.
Step 2: Apply for pre-need eligibility
Veterans and their spouses can apply in advance for a determination of eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery using VA Form 40-10007, online or on paper. Pre-need eligibility doesn’t reserve a specific gravesite, but it settles the eligibility question so the family doesn’t have to prove it while grieving.
Step 3: Schedule the burial
At the time of need, the funeral director or family calls the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117 with the veteran’s discharge information. The funeral director also requests military funeral honors from the service branch.
Step 4: File VA Form 21P-530EZ
The veterans burial benefits form is VA Form 21P-530EZ, Application for Burial Benefits. You can apply online at VA.gov or download the PDF form and mail it. Be ready to provide:
- The veteran’s information, including Social Security number and service details
- A copy of the DD-214 or other discharge document
- The death certificate
- Itemized receipts showing what you paid for burial, funeral, and transportation costs
- Your relationship to the veteran
For non-service-connected deaths, file within 2 years after burial, unless the veteran died in VA care or you’re claiming only the plot or transportation allowance.
Step 5: Request a headstone or marker
For a national cemetery burial, the cemetery orders the headstone. For a private cemetery, submit VA Form 40-1330 with the discharge document. Questions about headstones go to the National Cemetery Administration at 800-697-6947.
Step 6: Plan for the rest of the cost
Add up the expected funeral cost, subtract the VA benefits you expect, and decide how the gap will be paid. A life insurance calculator can help you estimate how much coverage would close it.
| Document or action | Why you need it | Where to get it |
| DD-214 or discharge papers | Proves service and discharge type | Veteran’s records or the National Archives |
| Death certificate | Required for claims | Funeral home or state vital records office |
| VA Form 40-10007 | Pre-need eligibility for national cemetery burial | VA.gov |
| VA Form 21P-530EZ | Burial, plot, and transportation allowances | VA.gov, online or PDF |
| VA Form 40-1330 | Headstone or marker in a private cemetery | VA.gov |
| Itemized receipts in your name | Proof of costs you paid | Funeral home, cemetery, transporter |
| Marriage or birth certificate | Proof of relationship for spouse or dependent | State vital records office |
Note: The veterans burial benefits phone number for general claims is 800-827-1000. For national cemetery scheduling, call 800-535-1117. Free help with VA claims is also available from accredited Veterans Service Organizations.
Conclusion
Veterans burial benefits cover the cemetery side of a veteran’s farewell well: a free national cemetery gravesite, a headstone, a flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, and military funeral honors. The cash side is limited and conditional, at most $2,000 for a service-connected death and $2,064 for an eligible non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026. Gather the DD-214 now, apply for pre-need eligibility, and plan for the funeral home costs VA won’t pay.
| Your situation | What to do |
| Veteran is living and wants a national cemetery burial | Apply for pre-need eligibility with VA Form 40-10007 |
| Death was service-connected | File VA Form 21P-530EZ for up to $2,000; no deadline |
| Non-service-connected death in VA care or while receiving compensation | File VA Form 21P-530EZ for burial and plot allowances |
| Burial will be in a private cemetery | Request a headstone with VA Form 40-1330 and ask about setting fees |
| You’re a surviving spouse | Check whether VA has paid automatically before filing |
| Family can’t cover the funeral home bill | Consider final expense coverage sized to the gap |
Plan for the Costs VA Won’t Pay With M Life Insurance
VA benefits help, but most veteran families still face a funeral home bill of several thousand dollars. Explore final expense insurance at M Life Insurance to compare policies that can cover the gap, from caskets and service fees to travel for family. A licensed agent can help you estimate what VA is likely to pay and how much coverage would cover the rest.
- Request a quote: Get final expense quotes
- Estimate your coverage: Life insurance calculator
- Call: (800) 661-8136
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FAQS
Most veterans who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge can be buried in a VA national cemetery with no charge for the gravesite, opening and closing, headstone, or perpetual care. VA’s regional office reviews cases involving other-than-honorable or bad conduct discharges. Free burial doesn’t include funeral home services, and veterans buried in private cemeteries receive a free headstone but not a free plot.
For a service-connected death on or after September 11, 2001, VA pays up to $2,000. For an eligible non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026, VA pays $1,032 for burial and $1,032 for a plot. For eligible deaths from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, the amounts are $1,002 and $1,002.
VA pays cash only through the burial, plot, and transportation allowances: up to $2,000 for a service-connected death, or up to $2,064 combined for an eligible non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026, plus possible transportation costs. VA also provides in-kind benefits worth more, including a national cemetery gravesite, opening and closing, a headstone, and a flag. VA doesn’t pay the funeral home directly; it reimburses the person who paid.
VA doesn’t cover funeral home services such as the funeral director’s fee, embalming, viewing, and staff, or merchandise such as caskets, flowers, obituaries, and programs. In a private cemetery, it also doesn’t pay for the plot beyond any plot allowance, opening and closing, or headstone setting fees. Family travel and receptions are also the family’s expense.
Yes. A spouse or surviving spouse can be buried with the veteran in a VA national cemetery, including perpetual care and an inscription on the veteran’s headstone, at no cost. This applies even if the spouse dies first or remarries after the veteran’s death. Former spouses whose marriage ended in divorce aren’t eligible unless they’re veterans themselves.
Sources and 2026 Verification
All rates and rules were checked against the sources below in November 2026.
- VA: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits: allowance amounts by date of death, eligibility conditions, filing deadlines, and automatic payments
- VA: Eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery: veteran, spouse, and dependent eligibility, and pre-need application
- VA National Cemetery Administration: burial benefits: what national cemetery burial includes, family costs, spouse burial, and scheduling
- VA: Burial in a private cemetery: headstones, setting fees, and spouse inscriptions
- VA: Headstones, markers, and medallions: VA Form 40-1330 and eligibility
- VA National Cemetery Administration: military funeral honors: honor detail requirements and requests
- VA: About VA Form 21P-530EZ: Application for Burial Benefits (revised December 2025)
- National Archives: military service records: requesting a DD-214
- National Funeral Directors Association: 2023 General Price List Study: median funeral costs and exclusions
- Federal Trade Commission: shopping for funeral services: consumer rights under the Funeral Rule, including supplying your own casket or urn
This article is for general information and isn’t legal or benefits advice. VA rates change each October 1 for non-service-connected allowances, and eligibility depends on the veteran’s records and circumstances, so confirm details with VA or an accredited Veterans Service Organization. Insurance coverage and premiums depend on the insurer and your health.
Joyce Espinoza, Expert Life Insurance Agent
Joyce Espinoza is a trusted life insurance agent at mLifeInsurance.com. She’s been in the insurance industry for over ten years, helping people, especially those with special health conditions to find the right coverage. At MLife Insurance, Joyce writes easy-to-understand articles that help readers make smart choices about life insurance. Previously, she worked directly with clients at Mlife Insurance, advising nearly 3,000 of them on life insurance options.
