Veterans are entitled to a variety of benefits—including VA burial benefits. Whether you’re a veteran pre-planning your own arrangements or a family member or caregiver, you can look to this convenient guide to learn about veteran death benefits.
Navigating the complex web of VA benefits can be confusing—though the VA has made major strides to simplify the process in recent years. Never hesitate to contact a licensed funeral professional to guide you through the process. Their knowledge, experience and compassion will make everything more manageable.
Honorably discharged veterans, their spouses, and their dependent children are all eligible for some VA burial benefits, including burial in a VA national cemetery.
If you’re planning for your own burial, you can apply in advance to determine your own eligibility and benefits. This process is called a “pre-need determination of eligibility.” Apply for pre-need eligibility online.
Eligible for Burial in a VA National Cemetery:
To be eligible, the veteran must have passed due to a service-related disability, while receiving VA care, or while receiving (or eligible for) a VA pension.
Generally, spouses and dependent children of veterans also qualify for burial in a VA national cemetery.
Unlike the veteran, a spouse or child buried in a private cemetery is not eligible for a headstone, marker or medallion from the VA.
According to the VA, you’re eligible for a burial allowance if you’re paying for the veteran’s funeral and won’t be reimbursed for the costs by another organization, such as the veteran’s employer or another government agency.
Veteran death benefits are available at no cost to the family. However, the family is responsible for any additional costs for the funeral or burial, such as setting the monument, placement or maintenance fees at the cemetery—to name a few.
Veterans may be laid to rest in a public cemetery or a national veterans cemetery. VA death benefits differ based upon what option is right for the veteran and their family.
Public Cemetery
If interred in a public cemetery, VA Death Benefits include:
It’s important to note that by choosing a plaque or urn for the veteran, you’re opting out of a headstone or marker. And the veteran will no longer qualify for burial at a VA national cemetery. The plaque or urn is your property once received.
These are important details to discuss with your funeral professional and family to understand what’s best for your loved one. If you’re the veteran pre-planning arrangements, it will be extremely helpful to your family for you to complete pre-need documents and share your eligibility decision letter with them.
Your diligence now will be a major help to your family in the future.
Veteran National Cemetery
If interred in a VA national cemetery, VA Death Benefits include:
These benefits are available at no cost to the family. However, you’re still responsible for the upfront expenses for the funeral or memorial service. More on that in the next section.
The answer to that question isn’t as straightforward as you may think. The allowance provided by the VA for a veteran’s burial likely will not cover the full cost of a funeral—but it will cover a portion.
VA burial benefits are distributed as a reimbursement. That means all upfront costs are the family’s responsibility. The family will be reimbursed a specific amount as defined by the VA.
If you’re the veteran’s surviving spouse listed on the veteran’s profile, you’ll automatically be reimbursed without being required to file for reimbursement with the VA. All others must file with the VA—your funeral professional will assist you with this process.
The maximum burial allowance for a service-related death is $2,000. For a non-service-related death, the maximum burial allowance is $948 and the maximum plot allowance is $948. Maximum headstone or marker allowance is $231.
These amounts differ based on date of death. The VA lists all allowances in detail for reference.
Beyond these technical benefits, the VA offers crisis and bereavement support to veterans and their families.
If you’re feeling alone or overwhelmed by grief, reach out to your personal support team—friends, family, and even your funeral professional can provide support when you need it most.
Spouses and children of veterans and other service members may qualify for bereavement counseling through a Vet Center. This is a powerful resource for grief support.
Need more information about funeral planning for a veteran? Access our ever-growing free resources for veterans and their families, including our funeral home locator to help you connect with a compassionate funeral expert.
