What the VA pays for, and who qualifies

Who is eligible

A veteran qualifies for VA burial benefits if all of the following are true:

• They were discharged or released from active military service under conditions other than dishonorable;
• They completed at least 24 months of continuous active service (or were discharged for a service-connected disability);
• They did not have a federal/state felony conviction that bars eligibility under 38 U.S.C. § 2411.

National Guard and Reserve members must have completed federal active duty (not just training) to qualify. Surviving spouses and dependent children may also be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery alongside the veteran.

Burial allowance

The VA pays a burial allowance to help cover funeral and burial costs. The amount depends on whether the death was service-connected:

Amounts shown are current as of the most recent VA fact sheet. Always verify the latest figure on VA.gov before relying on a number.

VA national cemetery burial

Eligible veterans, spouses, and dependent children may be buried at any of the 155 VA national cemeteries at no cost. The VA covers:

• The grave plot
• Opening and closing of the grave
• Perpetual care
• A government-furnished headstone or marker
• A burial flag
• A Presidential Memorial Certificate

The family pays no fee for any of these. The funeral home arranges transportation and coordinates the date and time with the cemetery's interment office.

Headstone or marker

The VA furnishes a headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of an eligible veteran at any cemetery, public or private, anywhere in the world. The marker must be requested using VA Form 40-1330. The VA does not pay for installation in a private cemetery — the family or cemetery covers that cost.

Presidential Memorial Certificate

A Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is an engraved paper certificate, signed by the sitting President, honoring the memory of an honorably discharged veteran. There is no charge. The funeral home or family submits VA Form 40-0247.

Military funeral honors

Honors are provided by the deceased's branch of service at no cost. Standard honors include flag presentation, playing of Taps, and a two-person honor detail. Three-volley rifle salutes and pall bearer details are provided when the branch can dispatch them. See the military honors page for details, or your branch page for branch-specific traditions:

• Army funeral honors
• Navy funeral honors
• Marine Corps funeral honors
• Air Force funeral honors
• Coast Guard funeral honors
• Space Force funeral honors

How to claim

1. Locate the veteran's DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). The funeral home will need it.
2. Choose a funeral home experienced with veteran services. Browse our directory on the homepage.
3. The funeral home submits the burial benefit claim using VA Form 21P-530EZ. Most veteran-friendly funeral homes handle this paperwork at no extra charge.
4. For VA national cemetery burial, the funeral home or family contacts the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117.