Veteran Burial Benefits
Across the country, Veterans from every era and every conflict rest in dignity, honor, and respect in VA national cemeteries. Memorial services at VA national cemeteries are provided at no charge to eligible Veterans and their families.
Burial services include:
- a plot or columbarium (for cremated remains),
- a grave liner, opening and closing of the grave,
- a headstone or marker,
- a burial flag,
- a Presidential Memorial Certificate,
- and perpetual (ongoing) care of the gravesite.
These benefits can provide peace of mind and reduce the financial burden of burial costs to families.
If you are a Veteran or family member interested in learning more about VA Burial and Memorial benefits, visit VA.gov and select “Burials and Memorials” to learn more. Through a “Pre-Need eligibility assessment,” you can help ease the burial planning process for you and your loved ones.
If you have questions about future burial needs for yourself or a living dependent of a Veteran, or you need assistance with the submission of a pre-need application, call 800-535-1117 and press 4. Counselors are available Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 7:30 pm Eastern Time and Saturday 9:00 am to 5:30 pm Eastern Time. Telecommunications Relay Services or TTY available at 711. If you do not have discharge documents or other military paperwork, we will help obtain the information needed to determine eligibility for interment in a VA national cemetery.
Robert is an Army combat veteran with service in Vietnam, Europe, the Pentagon, and the Department of State. He is an advocate for disabled veteran awareness and suicide prevention.
I’m trying to find the size requirements for columbarium. I will be placing two urns in it. Could not find anything on here.
.my father served from 1960 and got out in 1964 wondering if he would be eligible to be cremated and have his ashes near his fellow soldiers
Hello Donato,
We think so. This is the VA site that provides information on eligibility – https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/eligibility/. Contact your local VA office if you need additional clarification. Thanks for your query. Best, The DVEN Team.
We have completed the paperwork for a VA burial and understand this can also be used for a crematorium. We have received the approval letters for my husband and myself. My question is, “Are these benefits ($) able to be transferred to a church columbarium if they aren’t used at a VA cemetery?” Or, are they only able to be used at a VA cemetery? I have received conflicting information when contacting by phone.
Thank you,
Carole Studdard
Hi Carole,
We aren’t specialists in this area, but here what our research shows:
The monetary VA burial benefits (the “burial allowance”) do not have to be used at a VA national cemetery exclusively—they can be applied toward costs incurred at a private cemetery, including a church columbarium, provided certain requirements are met.
How VA Burial Allowance Works:
• The VA burial allowance is a reimbursement to help cover burial, funeral, and interment expenses for eligible veterans and their families.
• If the burial or inurnment takes place outside of a VA national cemetery—for example, in a church columbarium or a private cemetery—the VA offers a specific “plot or interment allowance” in addition to the burial allowance.
Conditions to Qualify for Payment:
• The person who paid the burial or cremation expenses may claim the allowance.
• You must not have been reimbursed for these costs by another agency or organization.
• The allowance can be used at a location of your choice, including private or religious cemeteries and columbaria, not only VA cemeteries.
Limitations:
• While the VA will provide a burial allowance for interment in a private cemetery or columbarium, other benefits (such as perpetual care, government-furnished headstones, or opening and closing of the grave at no cost) typically apply only to VA national cemeteries.
• The government will reimburse you only up to the maximum allowance limits, which for non-service-connected deaths as of October 1, 2024, is up to $978 for burial and funeral expenses plus a $978 plot-interment allowance (if not buried in a VA cemetery).
We hope this answers your question.
I was just told by a creamatiry as I was trying to prepay my creamatiry, that I have no rights to my own body because I’ll be dead and even if I pay, they contact next if kin and They decide what to do with your body. .my next of kin and entire family has abused, sexually and otherwise me my whole life and will probably take my body and throw it in a dump then try to steal all my assets. How is it possible for them to prevent me from being cremated and put in VA cemetery that I earned?
I was in the National Guard for six years and 6 months of active duty. Am I eligible to be buried in a national cemetery?
Hello John,
Eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery depends on both the type of service and the character of discharge. For National Guard and Reserve members, eligibility is generally limited to those who meet one or more of these criteria:
– Completed at least 20 years of qualifying service and are eligible for military retirement (even if not yet drawing retired pay).
– Died while on active duty or during active duty for training or inactive duty training under honorable conditions.
– Served on active duty (Title 10 federal orders, not training only) and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, and served the full period for which called or ordered to active duty (or at least 24 continuous months if service was after September 7, 1980).
Simply serving six years in the National Guard, plus six months of active duty (unless this was Title 10 federal active duty—not just training), typically does not by itself qualify for national cemetery burial unless you meet one of the criteria above—most commonly, the 20-year retirement threshold or qualifying active duty service.
If eligibility is uncertain, the VA encourages pre-need burial eligibility application to get a formal determination in advance. Honorable discharge is essential for all paths to eligibility.
For your case:
– If the six months of active duty were not just for training, and you were federalized (Title 10), you may be eligible if discharged honorably and served the full ordered period.
– If your only service was six years in the Guard and six months of active duty for training (AT/ADT), you likely would not qualify unless you have additional qualifying service or are entitled to Reserve Component military retirement.
It is advisable to contact the National Cemetery Administration or apply for pre-need eligibility for a determination based on your full service record.
Thanks for your service!