VA Expands Burial Benefits Eligibility

1. Burial benefits are not just for combat veterans

Most veterans who didn't receive a dishonorable discharge are eligible for a burial benefit. A spouse or minor child of a veteran is also eligible and, in some cases, an unmarried adult dependent child of a veteran.

"There’s a perception that you had to serve in conflict in order to be considered a veteran or earn your benefits,” Quinn said. “They have earned this by serving in our nation's military.”

2. Burial benefits are not limited to military cemeteries

The VA provides a standard issue headstone, marker or medallion (for veterans buried in a private cemetery), free of charge. Eligibility requirements are different for this benefit, but combat service is still not required. Spouses and dependents are ineligible for benefits at a nonmilitary burial ground.

3. Arrangements can be made in advance

Since 2016, the VA has accepted a pre-need determination of eligibility to become preapproved for burial at a VA national cemetery. Doing so makes the burial planning process much easier for families when a death occurs. The process can be started with these four steps:

• Determine eligibility.
• Choose a VA national cemetery. (Note: State cemeteries should be contacted before filing a pre-need application. Some state cemeteries have other specific requirements. Additionally, Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. Soldiers’ and Airmen's Home Cemetery should be contacted at 877-907-8585.)
• Gather the supporting documentation you'll need. In most cases it is a DD Form 214. In instances when there is trouble finding records, the National Personnel Records Center or Veterans Benefit Administration should be contacted.
• Fill out an application for each person requesting a preneed determination.

“When the time of need comes, that’s already done. And it’s one less thing that family has to worry about when they’re going through the grieving process,” Quinn said.

If pre-eligibility is not filed, families should still discuss end-of-life requests and know where military discharge papers are kept.

4. Advance planning isn’t required

In instances when a veteran dies unexpectedly and hasn't filed their preneed eligibility, Quinn suggested that families call 800-535-1117. The NCA will discuss the next steps with the families and review the required documentation. If a family doesn’t know where certain records are, the NCA will reach out to the National Personnel Records Center or the Veterans Benefit Administration. If a veteran didn't request to be buried in a military cemetery, eligibility can still be established to receive a marker at a private cemetery.

“Our mission is to honor every individual who's served this nation and to ensure that they are never forgotten,” Quinn said. “We will help that family through it. It's why we do what we do.”

When families don't have the veteran's discharge documents, it usually takes a few days to find the needed documents to confirm eligibility. If documents are already in hand, the funeral director or family member can often reserve an interment date at a nearby national cemetery on the day he or she calls.

5. Some families are eligible for expense reimbursements

Depending on the veteran's service history and where a veteran is buried, the VA may pay a burial allowance or payment of up to $2,000 to help cover certain burial-related expenses. Otherwise, benefits may include a grave site in any of the national cemeteries where space is available, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate at no cost to the family.

The VA’s burial benefit program provides financial help with all burial types including cremation, burial at sea and donation of remains to a medical school. The agency rmay provide single payments for deaths that are not connected to a veteran’s service. Meanwhile, service-connected burials, when the cause of death is related to military service, have no time limits to file a service-connected burial, transportation, or plot and interment allowance.

6. The VA will cover transportation costs to the final resting place

The VA recently added a transportation benefit that will cover the cost of transporting remains to state or tribal veteran cemeteries, in addition to other eligible national cemeteries. Typically this cost covers transportation from the funeral home to the final resting place. A receipt is required so the VA can determine how much to reimburse.

7. Veteran cemetery burials include a memorial web page

Family members can visit the unique web page of any veteran who's buried in a national, state, territorial or tribal cemetery and post photos, documents or memories in what is called the Veterans Legacy Memorial.

"It's a way to keep the memory of that veteran alive," Quinn said. "And to remember that we should always honor those who have served our nation."

8. Burial benefits are underutilized

In fiscal year 2020, over 80,000 veterans were interred in the VA's national cemeteries, representing only about 14 percent of veterans who died during the same time period, according to census data and other government estimates. (Another 4 percent were interred in state, territory or tribal cemeteries.) In private cemeteries, more than 140,000 standard issue headstones or markers were distributed from the VA for veterans’ grave sites. This means about 58 percent of veterans did not receive any burial benefit.

Editor’s note: This article, originally published July 27, 2021, has been updated with the new information.