VA Burial and Memorial Benefits Guide
Veteran Death Benefits
A clear guide to VA burial allowances, national cemetery burial, Arlington National Cemetery, burial flags, memorial items, headstones, markers, and burial at sea.
Reviewed and updated July 2026
We are sorry you need this information. This guide is designed to help you understand what burial and memorial benefits may be available after the death of a veteran.
This page focuses on benefits connected to the deceased veteran’s burial and memorialization. For monthly compensation, health care, education, pension, and other benefits for surviving family members, read our VA Survivor Benefits guide.
Veteran death benefits may include a VA burial allowance, transportation reimbursement, burial in a national cemetery, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, and military funeral honors. Eligibility and application requirements vary by benefit.
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Burial allowance
A possible payment toward eligible funeral, burial, plot, or interment costs.
National cemetery
Eligible veterans may receive a gravesite and related cemetery services at no cost.
Memorial items
Benefits may include a burial flag, headstone, marker, medallion, and memorial certificate.
How to apply
Burial allowance claims use VA Form 21P-530EZ and may also be submitted online.
What Are Veteran Death Benefits?
Veteran death benefits are burial, funeral, transportation, cemetery, and memorial benefits that may be available after an eligible veteran dies.
The phrase “veteran death benefits” can refer to several separate programs. They are not all cash payments, and qualifying for one benefit does not necessarily mean the veteran qualifies for every benefit.
Possible benefits include:
- A VA burial and funeral allowance
- A plot or interment allowance
- Transportation reimbursement
- Burial in a VA national cemetery
- Burial or inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery
- A government headstone, marker, or medallion
- A United States burial flag
- A Presidential Memorial Certificate
- Military funeral honors
- Burial at sea through the United States Navy
These benefits are different from survivor benefits paid directly to a spouse, child, or parent. DIC, Survivors Pension, CHAMPVA, education benefits, and accrued benefits are covered in our separate survivor-benefits resources.
What Is the VA Burial Allowance?
A VA burial allowance is a payment that may help cover part of an eligible veteran’s funeral, burial, cremation, plot, interment, or transportation costs.
The allowance is not designed to reimburse the entire funeral bill. It is generally a flat-rate benefit based on the veteran’s circumstances and the type of expense being claimed.
Possible payments include:
- A burial or funeral allowance
- A plot or interment allowance
- Reimbursement for eligible transportation expenses
VA burial benefits may apply to legal forms of final disposition, including traditional burial, cremation, burial at sea, and donation of remains to a medical school.
Who Qualifies for a VA Burial Allowance?
The person applying must generally have paid eligible costs, and the deceased veteran must meet the VA’s service, discharge, and benefit-related requirements.
An applicant may be a:
- Surviving spouse or legal partner
- Surviving child
- Parent
- Executor or administrator of the estate
- Family member or friend
- Funeral home, cemetery, or other organization
The veteran generally must not have received a dishonorable discharge, and at least one qualifying condition must apply.
| Possible basis for eligibility | What it generally means |
|---|---|
| Service-connected death | The death resulted from an illness or injury caused or aggravated by military service. |
| Receiving VA benefits | The veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death. |
| Eligible but receiving military retired pay | The veteran was entitled to VA compensation or pension but elected military retired or disability pay instead. |
| Pending VA claim | The veteran had a qualifying original or reopened compensation or pension claim pending and would have been entitled to benefits. |
| Death under VA care | The veteran died at a VA facility, a VA-contracted facility, or during qualifying VA-authorized travel. |
Not every veteran’s family qualifies for a burial allowance. Military service alone does not guarantee a cash burial payment.
The VA does not provide this burial allowance when the person died on active duty. Active-duty death and funeral benefits are generally handled through the Department of Defense and the appropriate military branch.
How Much Does the VA Pay Toward Burial Costs?
The amount depends on when the veteran died, whether the death was service connected, where the death occurred, and which burial, plot, interment, or transportation benefits apply.
VA burial rates change periodically. For that reason, families should use the VA’s current payment table rather than relying on an older dollar amount found in an article.
View current VA burial allowance rates .
Transportation reimbursement may be available in certain cases, particularly when an eligible veteran is transported for burial in a national cemetery.
Keep itemized transportation receipts in the name of the person or organization that paid the expense. A funeral bill that simply marks transportation as “included” may not provide enough information for reimbursement.
How Do I Apply for VA Burial Benefits?
Apply online or submit VA Form 21P-530EZ, Application for Burial Benefits.
Collect the veteran’s full name, Social Security or VA file number, dates of service, discharge information, and date and place of death.
Gather funeral, cemetery, cremation, burial, plot, and transportation receipts that show who paid each expense.
Select the benefits being claimed and provide the requested service, death, burial, and expense information.
Apply online, mail the form, deliver it to a VA regional office, or work with an accredited Veterans Service Officer.
Save the application, death certificate, discharge papers, receipts, medical records, and proof of submission.
Apply for VA burial benefits online .
Mailing address
Department of Veterans Affairs
Pension Intake Center
P.O. Box 5365
Janesville, WI 53547-5365
An eligible surviving spouse may not need to submit a separate burial-cost claim if the spouse is already correctly listed in the veteran’s VA profile. After receiving notice of the death, the VA may automatically pay a set amount to an eligible surviving spouse. Confirm the case directly with the VA.
What Documents Are Needed?
Most applicants should be prepared to provide the veteran’s death certificate, military discharge information, and itemized receipts for any expenses being claimed.
Documents may include:
- The veteran’s death certificate showing the cause of death
- DD Form 214 or other separation records covering all periods of service
- Itemized funeral, burial, cremation, or cemetery statements
- Itemized transportation receipts
- Proof showing who paid each expense
- Medical records when claiming a service-connected death
- A statement or medical opinion connecting the death to a service-connected condition
A useful funeral home or cemetery statement should identify:
- The veteran
- The service or item purchased
- The amount charged
- Any credits or insurance payments
- The amount paid
- The person or organization that made the payment
What Is the Deadline for Filing?
Some burial claims must be filed within two years, while other burial, plot, transportation, and service-connected claims have no filing deadline.
| Type of claim | General filing rule |
|---|---|
| Service-connected death | No time limit for the burial or transportation allowance. |
| Non-service-connected burial allowance | Generally within two years after burial or cremation. |
| Death under qualifying VA care | No time limit under the VA’s stated exception. |
| Plot or interment allowance | No time limit under the VA’s stated exception. |
| Transportation allowance | No time limit under the VA’s stated exception. |
When a discharge is changed after death from dishonorable to a potentially qualifying status, the burial claim generally must be filed within two years of that change.
Who Can Be Buried in a VA National Cemetery?
Veterans, service members, and certain eligible family members may qualify for burial in a VA national cemetery.
Eligibility depends on service history, duty status, character of discharge, and other federal requirements. A veteran separated under dishonorable conditions is generally not eligible.
Other than honorable, bad conduct, and mixed discharge histories may require a VA character-of-discharge determination.
Certain criminal convictions can also prohibit burial and related memorial benefits. These include qualifying federal or state capital crimes and certain final Tier III sex-offense convictions carrying a life sentence.
Review eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery .
Can eligibility be determined in advance?
Yes. Veterans and families may request a pre-need determination before the veteran dies. This can reduce uncertainty and help the family plan ahead.
What Does Burial in a VA National Cemetery Include?
Burial in a VA national cemetery generally includes the gravesite and essential cemetery services at no cost to the family.
Benefits generally include:
- A gravesite or columbarium space, when available
- Opening and closing of the grave
- A government grave liner
- A government headstone or marker
- Perpetual care of the gravesite
- A burial flag
- A Presidential Memorial Certificate
These benefits generally do not include the funeral home, casket, urn, viewing, flowers, obituary, or transportation to the cemetery unless a separate transportation benefit applies.
Who Can Be Buried at Arlington National Cemetery?
Arlington National Cemetery has stricter eligibility rules for in-ground burial than VA national cemeteries.
Arlington distinguishes between:
- Interment: in-ground burial of casketed or cremated remains
- Inurnment: placement of cremated remains in a columbarium or niche wall
Most veterans with at least one day of qualifying active-duty service, other than training, and an honorable discharge may be eligible for above-ground inurnment. In-ground burial has more restrictive requirements.
Common routes to in-ground eligibility
- Death while serving on qualifying Title 10 active duty
- Retirement from active duty with entitlement to retirement pay
- Qualifying reserve retirement after active-duty service
- Receipt of certain high-level military decorations
- Qualifying former prisoner-of-war status
- Certain high federal offices after qualifying military service
Qualifying decorations may include the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, or Purple Heart.
Arlington makes official eligibility determinations at the time of need. Eligibility cannot be guaranteed by a website, funeral home, or unofficial checklist.
Review Arlington National Cemetery eligibility .
Learn how to schedule a funeral at Arlington .
Arlington National Cemetery Customer Care Center: 877-907-8585
Can a Veteran Be Buried at Sea?
Yes. The United States Navy conducts burial-at-sea services for eligible service members, veterans, retirees, and certain dependents.
Eligible individuals may include:
- Members of the uniformed services
- Retired members of the uniformed services
- Honorably discharged former members
- Certain Military Sealift Command civilian marine personnel
- Certain dependents of current or former service members
The Navy performs the ceremony while a ship, submarine, or aircraft is deployed. Family members generally cannot attend. The family is later notified of the date, time, latitude, and longitude of the committal.
Required documents generally include:
- A death certificate
- A burial transit permit or cremation certificate
- DD Form 214, discharge certificate, or retirement orders
- The completed Navy Burial at Sea request documents
Contact MyNavy Career Center at 1-833-330-6622 to request a Burial at Sea packet.
Who Qualifies for a Burial Flag?
A United States flag may be provided at no cost to drape the casket or accompany the urn of an eligible veteran.
Eligibility generally depends on military service and character of discharge. Certain criminal convictions can disqualify a veteran.
A next of kin, family member, close friend, or funeral director may request the flag using VA Form 27-2008.
Funeral directors commonly help families obtain the flag through a local post office, VA regional office, or other authorized location.
Are Veteran Headstones, Markers, and Medallions Free?
The VA may provide an eligible veteran with a government headstone, grave marker, niche marker, or medallion at no cost.
The exact memorial item available depends on where the veteran is buried, whether the grave already has a privately purchased marker, and the veteran’s date of death and eligibility.
For burial in a VA national cemetery, the cemetery normally arranges the government marker. For a private cemetery, the family or representative may need to apply.
The cemetery may charge the family for setting or installing a government-furnished marker in a private cemetery.
What Is a Presidential Memorial Certificate?
A Presidential Memorial Certificate is an engraved paper certificate signed in the name of the current president to honor the memory of an eligible deceased veteran.
If the veteran is buried in a national cemetery, the VA normally presents one certificate to the next of kin during the burial service.
When an eligible veteran is buried in a private cemetery, a family member or close friend may apply. More than one certificate may be requested.
Who Qualifies for Military Funeral Honors?
Eligible veterans may receive military funeral honors when the family requests them through the funeral director or the appropriate military service.
Basic military funeral honors generally include:
- At least two uniformed service members
- One representative from the veteran’s branch of service
- The playing of “Taps”
- Folding and presentation of the United States flag
The family should provide the funeral director with the veteran’s DD Form 214 or other discharge documentation as early as possible.
Veteran Death Benefits Frequently Asked Questions
Does every veteran receive a burial allowance?
No. A veteran’s family may qualify only when the veteran and applicant meet the VA’s burial-allowance requirements. Military service by itself does not guarantee a payment.
Does the VA pay the entire funeral bill?
Usually not. VA burial allowances are generally limited payments toward eligible costs rather than full reimbursement for a funeral.
Does the VA pay for cremation?
Cremation is an accepted form of disposition for VA burial benefits. Whether a family receives a cash burial allowance depends on the veteran’s eligibility and the type of claim.
Is VA Form 21P-530 still used?
The current burial-benefits application is VA Form 21P-530EZ. Families should use the current form available through VA.gov rather than an older VA Form 21P-530.
Can a funeral home apply for the burial allowance?
A funeral home, cemetery, or other organization may apply when it paid qualifying costs or otherwise meets the VA’s applicant requirements.
Does a surviving spouse always have to apply?
Not always. The VA states that an eligible surviving spouse may receive an automatic payment when correctly listed in the veteran’s VA profile. The spouse should confirm the case directly with the VA.
Can a veteran be buried in a national cemetery for free?
Eligible veterans may receive a gravesite or columbarium space, opening and closing, a grave liner, a government marker, and perpetual care at no cost. Funeral home and transportation expenses are separate.
Is Arlington eligibility the same as VA cemetery eligibility?
No. Arlington National Cemetery has stricter rules, particularly for in-ground burial. Many honorably discharged veterans who do not qualify for in-ground burial may still qualify for above-ground inurnment.
Can a veteran be cremated and buried in a national cemetery?
Yes. Eligible cremated remains may be buried in a gravesite or placed in an available columbarium or niche.
Does the VA provide a free casket or urn?
VA national cemetery benefits generally do not include a casket or urn. Those items are normally arranged and paid for privately unless another benefit or organization provides assistance.
Can I apply if I lost the veteran’s DD Form 214?
Yes, but the VA may need military service records to determine eligibility. Families can request replacement service records through the National Archives.
Are there deadlines for burial benefits?
Some non-service-connected burial allowance claims must be filed within two years after burial or cremation. Other claims, including service-connected, qualifying under-VA-care, plot, interment, and transportation claims, may have no time limit.
When Prevention Fails, Our Mission Begins.
Many organizations work to prevent veteran suicide. Once A Soldier serves the families left behind when prevention fails.
We provide time-of-need financial assistance, practical guidance, and survivor resources to help families navigate the immediate financial and emotional consequences of veteran suicide.
How long to the time we submit the request is it processed and given?
Hi Tricia, it can take from 6 months to two years. Usually it is too little too late. I wish you the best. We don’t have much more information to share other than a few anecdotal conversations from families.