Every veteran who served honorably is entitled to a dignified, no-cost burial. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of the Army operate 155+ national cemeteries across the country, providing free burial to eligible veterans, their spouses, and dependent children. Beyond the cemetery itself, VA provides burial allowances of up to $2,000 for service-connected deaths, free government-furnished headstones and markers, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate signed by the current President of the United States. This guide walks through every VA burial benefit available to veterans and their families in 2026.
The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) operates 155 national cemeteries in 42 states and Puerto Rico, plus 33 soldier's lots and monument sites. The Army National Military Cemeteries (including Arlington National Cemetery) operate separately. Together, these cemeteries have interred more than 4 million veterans and family members.
The following are eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery:
Arlington National Cemetery has separate and more restrictive eligibility requirements than VA national cemeteries. Not all veterans who qualify for a VA national cemetery qualify for Arlington. Arlington requires: active duty death, full military retirement (20+ years), Medal of Honor, POW status, or other specific criteria. Contact Arlington directly for eligibility: 877-907-8585.
For eligible veterans buried in a VA national cemetery, the following are provided at no cost to the family:
Families are responsible for costs not covered by VA: funeral home preparation, casket or urn, transportation to the cemetery, and any religious or military honors expenses not provided by the military.
Eligible spouses and dependent children may be buried in the same grave as the veteran (one gravesite for the veteran and eligible family members), or in a nearby grave. The space for a spouse or dependent is reserved without charge, though opening and closing costs apply when they are interred. If a veteran was cremated, the cremated remains of the veteran, spouse, and dependents may be buried together in a single niche in a columbarium.
VA provides burial allowances to help offset funeral and burial costs for eligible veterans. The allowance amount depends on the circumstances of the veteran's death.
| Death Circumstance | Burial Allowance | Plot/Interment Allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Service-connected death | Up to $2,000 | No limit (paid in addition) |
| Non-service-connected, died while VA patient | Up to $948 | Up to $948 |
| Non-service-connected, not in VA care | Up to $948 | Up to $948 (if not in national cemetery) |
| Veteran receiving VA pension at time of death | Up to $948 | Up to $948 |
If the veteran's death was the result of a service-connected disability, VA pays a burial allowance of up to $2,000. This applies regardless of where the veteran is buried — in a national cemetery, a private cemetery, or anywhere else. The burial allowance is in addition to any other burial benefits the family receives.
If the veteran died while receiving VA care (in a VA medical center, VA-contracted nursing home, etc.) from a non-service-connected cause, VA pays up to $948 for burial expenses and up to $948 for a plot or interment allowance (if the veteran is not buried in a national cemetery, which is free). Total potential benefit: $1,896.
If the veteran died from a non-service-connected cause while not receiving VA care, but was receiving VA compensation or pension at the time of death, VA pays a burial allowance of up to $948 plus up to $948 for the plot if buried in a private cemetery.
Burial allowance claims must be filed within 2 years of the veteran's death (or 2 years of the veteran's discharge if the death occurred while on active duty). Claims filed after 2 years are generally denied unless VA waives the deadline for good cause. File as soon as possible after arrangements are made.
VA provides a government-furnished headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any eligible veteran, at no cost to the family — whether buried in a national cemetery, state veterans cemetery, or private cemetery.
Each marker includes the veteran's name, branch of service, years of birth and death, and optional personal inscription (up to 70 characters, including rank, war service, and a religious emblem of belief). VA offers 68 approved religious and belief emblems that can be engraved on the headstone.
For veterans already buried in a private cemetery with a privately purchased headstone, VA provides a government-furnished bronze medallion at no cost. The medallion — sized 3.5" — can be affixed to the existing headstone to identify the grave as that of a veteran. This allows families who already bought a headstone to still receive official recognition without replacing it.
Submit VA Form 40-1330 (Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker) or VA Form 40-1330M (Claim for Government Medallion). For national cemetery burials, the cemetery director usually handles this automatically. For private cemetery burials, the next of kin or funeral home submits the form directly to VA's Memorial Affairs program. Delivery typically takes 30–60 days; the family is responsible for installation costs at private cemeteries.
The Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is an engraved paper certificate, signed by the current President of the United States, expressing the nation's gratitude for the veteran's military service. It is provided free of charge and can be ordered in multiple copies for different family members.
Any number of PMCs can be requested — there is no limit per family. PMCs are available for veterans with honorable discharges. The certificate typically takes 4–8 weeks to arrive by mail. Families may request a PMC online at va.gov/burials-memorials/memorial-items/presidential-memorial-certificates/, by mail, in person at a VA regional office, or through a VSO.
Veterans do not have to be buried in a national cemetery to receive VA burial benefits. Veterans buried in private or religious cemeteries are still eligible for:
Veterans buried in state veterans cemeteries receive many of the same benefits as national cemeteries. Most states operate their own veterans cemeteries, which typically offer free burial for veterans (and sometimes spouses) who meet state residency requirements. State cemeteries may have more available space in geographic areas where national cemeteries have limited openings.
The primary form for claiming VA burial benefits is VA Form 21P-530EZ (Application for Burial Benefits). This form is used to claim the burial allowance, plot/interment allowance, and transportation reimbursement.
To schedule a burial in a VA national cemetery, contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office:
National Cemetery Scheduling Office
Phone: 1-800-535-1117
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM ET
Online: cem.va.gov
The funeral home typically contacts NCA directly to schedule the burial, verify eligibility, and coordinate logistics. Families should notify the funeral home of the veteran's service immediately so they can initiate the scheduling process. It is also helpful to have the DD-214 accessible — funeral homes will need it to confirm eligibility with NCA.
For questions about specific national cemeteries, headstones, or the Presidential Memorial Certificate program, VA's main burial and memorial benefits line is 1-800-827-1000.
Our form wizard helps families complete VA Form 21P-530EZ to claim burial allowances and other benefits. Free, no account required.
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