VA Burial & Memorial Benefits

Burial allowance and plot allowance

VA pays a burial allowance to help cover funeral and burial costs, plus a plot or interment allowance when the veteran is not buried in a national cemetery. Amounts depend on whether the death was service-connected and whether the veteran was hospitalized by VA at the time of death.

• Service-connected death: substantially higher burial allowance (set by 38 CFR § 3.1600(a)).
• Non-service-connected death of a veteran receiving VA care: lower allowance plus plot allowance.
• Plot or interment allowance: paid when burial is not in a national cemetery.
• Transportation allowance: may be paid when remains are moved to a national cemetery for burial.

Government-furnished headstone, marker, or medallion

VA provides a headstone, marker, or bronze medallion for the grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery in the world, regardless of date of death. The medallion (in lieu of a headstone) attaches to an existing privately purchased headstone to identify the deceased as a veteran.

Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC)

A PMC is an engraved paper certificate signed by the current President honoring the memory of an honorably discharged deceased veteran. There is no time limit on requesting a PMC, and multiple certificates may be issued to family members.

U.S. burial flag and military funeral honors

VA furnishes a U.S. burial flag at no cost to drape the casket or accompany the urn of an eligible deceased veteran. After the funeral the flag is given to the next-of-kin. Military funeral honors — including the playing of Taps and folding and presentation of the flag — are coordinated through the deceased veteran's branch of service.

Burial in a VA national cemetery

Most veterans who served on active duty (other than for training) and were not dishonorably discharged are eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery, along with their spouse and certain dependents. NCA operates 155+ national cemeteries across the United States. Pre-need eligibility determinations are available on VA Form 40-10007.

How to apply

1. Burial allowance: file VA Form 21P-530EZ within 2 years of the veteran's burial (no time limit if the death was service-connected).
2. Headstone or marker: VA Form 40-1330. The cemetery typically helps file this.
3. Burial flag: VA Form 27-2008 — most funeral homes and U.S. Post Offices can issue the flag at the time of arrangements.
4. PMC: apply through any VA regional office, online at va.gov, or through the funeral director.
5. National cemetery interment: contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117 at the time of need; pre-need determinations on VA Form 40-10007.

Where these claims break down

• ×Missing the 2-year burial-allowance deadline for non-service-connected deaths.
• ×Assuming a private headstone disqualifies the family from a government marker — a bronze medallion can still be added.
• ×Not requesting a Presidential Memorial Certificate because no one mentioned it at the funeral.
• ×Confusing burial benefits (NCA / VBA) with DIC (VBA) — they are separate claims and a survivor may qualify for both.

Frequently Asked Questions