Veteran Burial Benefits

When a death in the family happens, all too often, survivors find themselves ill-prepared to cope with the recent loss. Decisions have to be made, and paperwork must be submitted to ensure Department of Veterans Affairs burial and memorial benefits are received on an eligible veteran’s behalf.

As difficult as this subject can be, discussing and making preparations for death ahead of time is recommended. If you think you or your loved one may qualify for veteran burial benefits, a DAV national service officer (NSO) can help at no charge or obligation. They are experienced with helping people understand the burial and memorial process and can help ease the burden after a death in the family.

To find your local DAV office, visit benefitsquestions.org.

The following guide includes VA burial and memorial benefits some survivors may be entitled to as well as information on who is eligible for burial at Arlington National Cemetery and other national cemeteries across the country.

If a veteran died, who pays for the funeral?

The VA will help with certain expenses up to an established amount set by law, which is periodically increased toward plot and burial expenses and headstone or marker allowances. If a veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost for transporting the deceased may also be reimbursed.

In many cases where the veteran’s death is not connected to their military service, there’s a time limit of within two years after the veteran’s burial to file for burial benefits. For a service-connected death or for a veteran who died while receiving VA or VA-contracted care at a health facility, there is no time limit.

Burial and plot allowance for a service-connected death

Certain benefits are available to cover burial expenses for any veteran who died as a direct result of a service-connected disability or for those veterans whose service-connected ailment was found by the VA to be a contributing cause to the veteran’s death. Benefits may also extend to some dependents and survivors.

Burial and plot allowance for a non-service-connected death

The VA may pay toward burial and funeral expenses if the veteran was hospitalized by the VA at time of death, toward burial and funeral expenses if there weren’t hospitalized by the VA at time of death, and for a plot if not buried in a national cemetery. Amounts paid may be adjusted year to year, as the VA has used the Consumer Price Index for modifications since fiscal year 2013.

If the death occurred while the VA properly hospitalized the veteran, or under VA contracted nursing home care, some or all of the costs for transporting the veteran’s remains may be reimbursed. The VA does not pay burial benefits if the veteran died during active military service, was a member of Congress who died while holding office or was a federal prisoner.

Applying for a pre-need burial determination

Before the veteran dies, they can apply for a pre-need determination on their eligibility to be buried in one of the 155 VA national cemeteries across the country. However, this doesn’t include burial requests at Arlington National Cemetery. Those are covered below. A pre-need determination can make the burial planning process easier for family members.

For eligibility requirements or more information on this service, visit va.gov/burials-memorials/pre-need-eligibility/ or call 800-535-1117. DAV benefits advocates can also provide assistance with a pre-need determination form at no cost.

How to schedule a national cemetery burial

The VA provides veterans and their dependents with a variety of gravesite options for burial. However, choices are limited depending on the specific cemetery. Options may include full casket burial, columbarium interment (placement in an above-ground structure for cremated remains) or in-ground interment for cremated remains.

While gravesites in national cemeteries cannot currently be reserved, the VA will honor reservations made under previous programs.

To make arrangements for burial at national cemeteries, the funeral director or the next of kin must contact the specific national cemetery in which burial is preferred.

Some spouses, parents and minor children of service members or eligible veterans may be buried in a national cemetery.

The steps to schedule a national cemetery burial can be found on the VA’s burials and memorials website.

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery is administered by the Department of the Army. Eligibility for burial at Arlington is more restrictive than at VA national cemeteries.

Eligibility for in-ground burial is reserved for:

• Service members who died on active duty and their immediate family
• Military retirees and their immediate family
• Recipients of the Purple Heart or of the Silver Star and above
• Prisoners of war (POWs) who died after Nov. 30, 1993

Eligibility for interment in Arlington’s Columbarium Court or Niche Wall includes all those listed above as eligible for in-ground burial, as well as:

• Service members who died on active duty for training only
• Veterans who served at least one day on active duty other than for training
• Any member of an armed forces Reserve component, the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard whose death occurs under honorable conditions while on active duty for training or performing full-time service

For more information, visit arlingtoncemetery.mil or call 877-907-8585.

Note: Due to limited space, only honorably discharged veterans in the above categories are eligible.

State veterans cemeteries

Eligibility requirements are set for each state and may differ from the national cemeteries. For more information, contact the individual state cemetery or state veterans affairs office. To locate a state veterans cemetery, visit cem.va.gov.

Military funeral honors

The Department of Defense is responsible for providing military funeral honors through the Honoring Those Who Served program. Public Law 106–65 allows for every eligible veteran to receive these honors at a funeral, including folding and presenting a United Stated flag and playing of taps, at the family’s request.

Funeral home directors must submit a request for military funeral honors on behalf of the veteran’s family.

The VA National Cemetery Administration may assist with arranging military funeral honors at VA national cemeteries.

Headstones and grave markers

The VA will produce a headstone or grave marker for any unmarked grave of a deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery in the world.

The VA will also provide a single headstone, columbarium niche cover or a flat marker for a veteran’s final resting place at private, state or national cemeteries.

To request a government-provided headstone, marker or medallion, the eligible applicant must submit a VA Form 40-1330, “Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker,” or VA Form 40-1330M, “Claim for Government Medallion for Placement in a Private Cemetery,” along with proof of military service.

Can a veteran’s spouse or dependents be buried with them?

Yes, eligible spouses and dependents of a veteran can be buried in a VA national cemetery, even if the veteran is still alive or is not buried or memorialized in a national cemetery. Specific eligibility requirements can be found at the National Cemetery Administration’s website.  

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation

Surviving spouses, children or parents of a service member who died in the line of duty or from a service-related injury or illness may be eligible for tax-free monthly compensation. DAV advocates for the needs of veterans’ survivors and can provide assistance at no cost. Visit benefitsquestions.org to find a DAV benefits advocate near you.

To receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), surviving spouses must meet one of the following requirements:

• Married the veteran or service member before Jan. 1, 1957
• Married the veteran or service member within 15 years of their discharge from military service during which the service-connected illness or injury began or became worse
• Married to the veteran or service member for at least one year
• Had a child with the veteran or service member; aren’t currently remarried; and either lived with the veteran or service member without a break until their death or, if separated, weren’t at fault for the separation

Note: If you remarried on or after Dec. 16, 2003, and you were 57 years old or older at the time you remarried, you can still continue to receive DIC.

Eligibility for surviving children

To receive DIC, surviving children must meet both of the following requirements:

• Not included in the surviving spouse’s DIC
• Under age 18 or between ages 18 and 23 while attending school

Children adopted out of the veteran’s family may be eligible for DIC if all other eligibility criteria are met.

Eligibility for surviving parents

To receive DIC, both of the following must be true for surviving parents:

• Biological, adoptive or foster parent of the veteran or service member
• Income below a certain amount

Evidence required for DIC

Surviving spouses, children or parents eligible for DIC must submit evidence—documents such as military service records, doctor’s reports and medical test results—that verify one of the following is true for the veteran or service member:

• The service member died from an injury or illness while on active duty or in the line of duty while on active duty for training.
• The service member died from an injury or certain illnesses in the line of duty while on inactive training.
• The veteran died from a service-connected illness or injury.

For surviving spouses or children only, the veteran must have had a 100% permanent and totally disabled rating under one of the following conditions:

• For at least 10 years before their death
• Since their release from active duty and for at least five years immediately before their death
• For at least one year before their death if they were a former prisoner of war who died after Sept. 30, 1999

Note: “Totally disabled” means the veteran’s illnesses or injuries made it impossible for them to work.

Leaving a legacy gift to DAV

More than a million disabled veterans across the country rely on DAV, America’s oldest and largest organization serving ill and injured veterans from every era. Leaving an impactful and lasting legacy gift will ensure veterans across the country will have access to health care, education, disability and other benefits they’ve earned.

Many options are available to leave a gift to DAV, including through a will or trust, charitable gift annuities, and life insurance and retirement policies. Gifts can also be left anonymously.

For more information, please call us at 800-216-9802, ext. 1, to request brochures that offer information on giving in greater detail.

You can also visit our website at davplanmygift.org for a selection of estate-planning articles.

To leave a gift to DAV, you will need to use our legal name, address and tax identification number, noted below:

DAV (Disabled American Veterans)
P.O. Box 14301
Cincinnati, OH 45250

Tax identification number (EIN): 31-0263168