Eligible veterans can receive burial in a VA national cemetery at no cost to the family, a free government headstone or marker, a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, and military funeral honors. Depending on the circumstances, the VA may also pay a burial allowance toward funeral and burial costs. Spouses and dependents can qualify for some of these benefits too.
This guide explains each benefit and how families usually apply. Eligibility rules are detailed and change from time to time, so always confirm current details with the Department of Veterans Affairs at va.gov/burials-memorials.
Who is generally eligible
VA burial benefits are generally available to veterans who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, and to service members who die on active duty. Some members of the Reserve and National Guard qualify as well. Spouses, surviving spouses and some dependent children may be eligible for burial in a national cemetery even if they die before the veteran.
The key document is the veteran's discharge record, usually the DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). If you cannot find it, the National Archives' National Personnel Records Center can help families request military records.
Burial in a VA national cemetery
For eligible veterans, burial in a VA national cemetery is provided at no cost to the family. The benefit includes:
- The gravesite (in-ground, or a columbarium niche or in-ground site for cremated remains)
- Opening and closing of the grave
- A grave liner for casketed burial
- A government headstone or marker
- Perpetual care of the gravesite
- A burial flag
The family remains responsible for funeral home costs, such as transportation of remains, embalming or preparation, the casket or urn, and any service held before the committal. Committal services at national cemeteries are usually brief and held in a committal shelter rather than at the grave.
Many states also run state veterans cemeteries, often with similar eligibility and low or no cost for veterans. Rules for spouses and residency can differ, so check with the specific cemetery.
Pre-need eligibility determination
Veterans and family members can apply in advance to find out whether they are eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery. This is called a pre-need eligibility determination, and you apply using VA Form 40-10007. It does not reserve a specific gravesite, but it makes scheduling much faster at the time of need because eligibility is already on file.
If you are preplanning a funeral, this is one of the most practical steps a veteran can take. Keep the VA's decision letter with the rest of your plans.
Headstones, markers and medallions
The VA furnishes a government headstone or marker at no cost for the unmarked grave of an eligible veteran in any cemetery, including private cemeteries. Options include upright marble or granite headstones and flat granite, marble or bronze markers, subject to what the cemetery allows. Families of veterans buried in a privately marked grave can instead request a medallion to attach to the existing headstone.
Keep in mind:
- The VA provides the marker, but a private cemetery may charge its own fee for setting it.
- If you prefer a private headstone, a monument and headstone dealer can make one, and you can still add a VA medallion.
- Our guide on how much a headstone costs covers private memorial prices.
Burial flag and Presidential Memorial Certificate
A United States flag is provided to drape the casket or accompany the urn of an eligible veteran. It is usually given to the next of kin, and funeral directors can help obtain it. Flags are also available from many post offices and VA regional offices.
A Presidential Memorial Certificate is an engraved certificate signed by the current President, honoring the veteran's service. Eligible family members and loved ones can request one, and more than one copy may be requested.
Burial allowances
The VA may pay a burial allowance to help with funeral and burial costs. The amount and type depend on factors such as whether the death was service-connected, whether the veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation, whether the veteran died in a VA facility or under VA care, and whether burial takes place in a national cemetery. There can also be a plot or interment allowance and help with transportation costs in some cases.
Because amounts are adjusted over time and the rules have several categories, we do not list figures here. Check the current rates and eligibility on VA burial allowances. Applications generally have time limits for non-service-connected deaths, so it is worth applying soon after the funeral. Our guide on how to pay for a funeral covers other sources of help.
Military funeral honors
The Department of Defense provides military funeral honors for eligible veterans at no cost. At a minimum, an honors detail consists of two uniformed members of the armed forces, at least one from the veteran's branch of service. The ceremony includes the folding and presentation of the burial flag and the playing of Taps, which may be performed by a bugler or by a high-quality recording. Additional elements, such as a rifle detail, may be provided when resources allow.
Families usually request funeral honors through the funeral director, who contacts the appropriate military service. Have the DD-214 ready, and allow some lead time for scheduling.
How families usually arrange a veteran's burial
- Find the DD-214 or other discharge papers.
- Tell the funeral home that the person was a veteran. Many funeral homes regularly work with the VA and national cemeteries. You can search veterans funeral services in the directory.
- Choose the cemetery. For a national cemetery, the funeral director typically contacts the VA's National Cemetery Scheduling Office to confirm eligibility and set a date.
- Request military funeral honors through the funeral director.
- Order the headstone or marker if burial is in a private cemetery. In a national cemetery, the VA handles it.
- Apply for burial allowances and request a Presidential Memorial Certificate after the funeral.
For timing, see how long after death is a funeral.
Benefits for spouses and dependents
Spouses and some dependent children of eligible veterans may be buried in a national cemetery, usually in the same gravesite as the veteran, with their name and dates inscribed on the veteran's headstone at no cost. Rules apply to remarried surviving spouses and adult dependent children, so confirm eligibility with the VA. Spouses and dependents do not receive a separate government headstone in a private cemetery.