Veteran services & VA burial benefits

What are VA burial benefits and memorial items?

VA burial benefits are designed to assist service members, veterans and their families plan and pay for a burial or memorial service in a VA national cemetery. Memorial items are provided through Veterans Affairs to honor the service of those who served the country.

Who qualifies for burial benefits and burial in a national cemetery?

Veterans, service members, spouses and dependents may be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery, as well as other benefits, if they meet one of these requirements:

• A veteran who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge
• A service member who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training
• The spouse or minor child of a veteran, even if the veteran died first
• In some cases, the unmarried adult dependent child of a veteran

What are military funeral honors and a committal service?

Military funeral honors include the playing of “Taps,” a rifle detail, a color guard and uniformed service members who properly fold and present the United States flag to the grieving family. The flag is typically given to the next of kin or a close friend. To receive the burial flag, the veteran or reservist must meet at least one of the following:

• Served in wartime
• Died while serving on active duty after May 27, 1941
• Served after January 31, 1955
• Served in peacetime and left military service before June 27, 1950, after serving at least one enlistment or because of a disability caused or made worse by active military service
• Served in the Selected Reserves, or served in the military forces of the Philippines while in service of the United States and died on or after April 25, 1951

Burial allowance: how and when to apply

VA burial benefits help cover burial, funeral and transportation costs. For burial in a national cemetery, survivors can receive help with burial and funeral costs, the plot or interment, and transporting the veteran’s remains.

Apply online at va.gov/burials-memorials/veterans-burial-allowance, or by mail using VA Form 21P-530EZ.

Headstones and markers

A veteran who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge, or a service member who died on active duty, may be eligible for a government headstone or marker. The VA also provides a headstone for the unmarked grave of an eligible veteran at no charge. To request a headstone, grave marker or niche marker, fill out VA Form 40-1330 and send it to:

Check eligibility at va.gov headstones, markers and medallions.

Contacting the VA

For more about VA burial benefits and memorial items, visit va.gov/burials-memorials or call the VA at 1-800-827-1000.

Your loved one’s family may also qualify for Social Security survivor benefits. Our Social Security guide explains how to apply.