Veterans burial benefits include a free burial plot, headstone, burial flag, military honors, and a partial burial allowance. Here's what's covered and how to claim it.
Most veterans with a discharge other than dishonorable qualify for burial in a VA national cemetery at no cost, plus a headstone, a burial flag, and in many cases a cash burial allowance. This guide explains exactly what the VA pays in 2026, who is eligible, what it covers for cremation and for spouses, and how to claim it without missing a deadline.
Eligible veterans can receive a package of benefits from the VA and the National Cemetery Administration. The core benefits are:
These are separate from any funeral insurance or final expense policy. The VA benefits reduce the out-of-pocket cost of a funeral, but for most families they do not cover the full bill, which is why many veterans still carry a small final expense plan for the gap.
The VA burial allowance is a tax-free payment toward funeral and burial costs. The amount depends on whether the death was connected to military service. As of the rates effective on or after 1 October 2025:
These figures are adjusted by the VA over time, so always confirm the current amount when you file. The service-connected and non-service-connected allowances cannot both be paid for the same death.
Yes. The VA treats cremation the same as casketed burial for benefit purposes. A veteran who is cremated is still eligible for the burial allowance, a free gravesite or columbarium niche in a national cemetery, a government-furnished urn or marker, a burial flag, and military honors. The VA also recognizes burial at sea and the donation of remains to a medical school as legal forms of final disposition. The dollar allowances for cremation are the same as those listed above, since the payment is based on service connection, not on the type of disposition.
Eligibility for a national cemetery burial and the associated benefits generally extends to:
The cash burial allowance has additional conditions. It is typically paid when the veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation, died in a VA facility, or died from a service-connected condition. A surviving spouse, next of kin, or the person who paid the funeral bill can file the claim.
A spouse of an eligible veteran can usually be buried in the same national cemetery gravesite, even if the spouse dies first, at no cost for the gravesite, opening and closing, or perpetual care. The spouse's name can be added to the government headstone. Spouses are not eligible for the cash burial allowance in their own right, and military funeral honors are reserved for the veteran, but the shared gravesite and headstone are significant benefits that many families do not realize are available.
There are two separate processes, and timing matters.
1. For burial in a national cemetery, the funeral director or family contacts the National Cemetery Scheduling Office to arrange the gravesite and honors. Have the veteran's discharge papers (DD Form 214) ready, as they establish eligibility. 2. For the cash burial allowance, file VA Form 21P-530EZ, the Application for Burial Benefits. You can file online or by mail. The form takes around 30 minutes to complete, and you will need the death certificate, the DD Form 214, and receipts for funeral expenses you paid.
Watch the deadlines. There is no time limit to claim the allowance for a service-connected death. For a non-service-connected death, you generally must file within two years of the burial.
Not automatically, and not all of them. Burial in a national cemetery and a government headstone are available to almost all veterans with a qualifying discharge. The cash burial allowance is narrower and depends on the conditions above, such as receiving VA benefits at the time of death or dying from a service-connected cause. A dishonorable discharge disqualifies a veteran from these benefits. When in doubt, apply, because eligibility is decided case by case and the paperwork is straightforward.
Even with full VA benefits, families often face costs the VA does not pay, such as a private cemetery plot, a casket or upgraded urn, embalming, the funeral home's professional service fee, flowers, catering, and travel for family. The average American funeral runs several thousand dollars more than the VA allowance. A small burial or final expense policy is a common way to cover that gap so the family is not paying out of pocket during a difficult time. This is the kind of planning a concierge can map out for a veteran's family in one conversation.
How much does the VA pay for a veteran's funeral in 2026? For a non-service-connected death, the VA pays $1,002 toward burial and funeral costs plus a $1,002 plot allowance when not buried in a national cemetery. For a service-connected death, it pays up to $2,000. Amounts are tax-free and adjusted over time.
Does the VA pay for cremation? Yes. Cremation qualifies for the same burial allowance, a free niche or gravesite in a national cemetery, a government urn or marker, a burial flag, and military honors, just like a casketed burial.
Can a veteran's spouse be buried with them? Yes. An eligible spouse can share the veteran's national cemetery gravesite at no cost and have their name added to the headstone, even if the spouse dies first.
What form do I use to claim the VA burial allowance? VA Form 21P-530EZ, the Application for Burial Benefits. File online or by mail with the death certificate, DD Form 214, and funeral receipts.
Is there a deadline to apply? There is no deadline for a service-connected death. For a non-service-connected death, file within two years of the burial.
At Titan Concierge, we help veterans' families claim every benefit they have earned and plan around the gap the VA does not cover, with clear guidance and no pressure. Talk to a concierge to map out the benefits, the paperwork, and the costs in one call.