Veterans' funeral and burial benefits, explained

The short answer

A veteran's service can entitle the family to meaningful funeral and burial benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Most eligible veterans receive burial in a VA national cemetery at no cost — including the grave, a government headstone or marker, and a burial flag — plus military funeral honors, and some families also qualify for monetary allowances. Together these can substantially reduce what a family pays.

The benefits at a glance

Five distinct benefits can apply, and they stack. Picturing which are free and which are partial helps a family see what to claim:

Burial in a VA national cemetery

Eligible veterans may be buried in a VA national cemetery at no cost to the family. That generally includes the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and perpetual care of the grave. A spouse and eligible dependents can often be buried there as well. Burial in a private cemetery is also possible, with some benefits still available.

Headstone, marker, flag, and honors

Several memorial benefits are provided whether the veteran is buried in a national or a private cemetery:

• Headstone, marker, or medallion. The VA provides a government headstone or grave marker at no cost. For a private grave with a privately purchased headstone, a bronze medallion denoting veteran status is offered instead.
• The burial flag. The VA furnishes a United States burial flag at no cost to drape the casket or accompany the urn; after the service it is presented to the next of kin as a keepsake.
• Military funeral honors. Eligible veterans are entitled to military funeral honors at no cost — by law, the folding and presentation of the flag and the playing of Taps by at least two uniformed service members.

Burial and plot allowances

Some families qualify for monetary burial and plot allowances that help offset funeral and cemetery costs. These are most commonly available when the death was service-connected, occurred in a VA facility, or the veteran was receiving VA benefits. They are partial allowances rather than full reimbursement, and the amounts are set and periodically updated by the VA.

How to claim the benefits

1. 1
   Find the discharge papers (DD-214). They establish eligibility for burial, honors, and memorial items.
2. 2
   Tell the funeral director the person was a veteran.They can request military funeral honors and the burial flag on the family's behalf.
3. 3
   Contact the VA or a national cemetery to arrange burial and a headstone or marker. Confirm eligibility on the VA eligibility page.
4. 4
   Ask the VA about burial and plot allowances to see whether the family qualifies for a partial cash benefit.

Veterans' benefits can be combined with the planning steps in our guide to paying for a funeral, and the planning checklist can help you keep the paperwork together. For the ceremony itself, see our guide to military funeral honors.

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