Burial and Memorial Benefits: What Every Family Should Know Before They Need to Know

When a veteran dies, the family makes a series of decisions in the first 72 hours about burial that they often haven't thought through in advance. National cemetery or local cemetery? Burial or cremation? Military honors? Arlington — and is the veteran even eligible? Headstone style?

Most of these decisions are easier with information in hand before the death. This guide is what's available to veterans and their families, what's automatic, what requires application, and what to think about now if a veteran in your family is aging.

What veterans are entitled to

Most honorable-service-veterans are entitled to a basic package at no cost to family:

• Burial in a National Cemetery — plot, opening and closing of grave, perpetual care
• Government-furnished headstone or marker — for use in any cemetery (national or private)
• Burial flag — US flag draped on the casket, then folded and presented to next of kin
• Military funeral honors — minimum of two uniformed service members, folding of flag, playing of Taps (recorded if a live bugler isn't available)
• Presidential Memorial Certificate — engraved certificate signed by the sitting President honoring the veteran's service

Some additional benefits depending on circumstances:

• Burial allowance — partial reimbursement of funeral and burial expenses, especially if death is service-connected
• Plot allowance — for non-national-cemetery burial, partial reimbursement
• Transportation reimbursement — moving the deceased to a national cemetery in some cases

Eligibility for National Cemeteries

The VA operates more than 150 national cemeteries across the US. Eligibility is broader than most people think:

Eligible:

• Veterans with discharge characterization other than dishonorable (Honorable, General, OTH on case-by-case)
• Spouses (current or surviving) of eligible veterans
• Dependent children of veterans (under 21, or older if disabled before 21)
• Some parents in specific circumstances (rare)

Not eligible (in most cases):

• Veterans with dishonorable discharge
• Veterans whose service is later determined to have been gained by fraud
• Spouses who divorced and did not remarry the veteran

Time-limit notes:

• Eligibility doesn't expire — a veteran who served 60 years ago is still eligible
• Spouses are eligible whether or not they predecease the veteran
• Children who died young can be buried with the veteran parent

Arlington National Cemetery — separate rules

Arlington has more restrictive rules than other national cemeteries. Eligibility for above-ground inurnment (cremated remains) is broader than for casket burial.

For casket burial, a veteran must meet at least one of:

• Military retiree (20+ years)
• Killed in action or died of wounds received in combat
• Recipient of certain top-tier awards (Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Purple Heart, etc.)
• Honorably discharged due to permanent disability incurred in active duty
• Former Prisoner of War who died after November 30, 1993
• President or former President
• Various other specific categories

For inurnment (above-ground urn placement), eligibility extends to honorably discharged veterans regardless of years of service or specific awards.

Arlington is highly oversubscribed and has long lead times. If Arlington is desired, planning ahead matters. Most veteran families opt for a different national cemetery.

What's NOT automatic

Several pieces require action by the family:

Application for burial in national cemetery

The funeral home typically initiates this through the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117. They need:

• DD-214 (or other proof of service)
• Death certificate
• Discharge characterization information
• Family contact information

Schedule fits available cemetery space and burial type chosen. Waits range from a few days to a couple of weeks.

Government headstone or marker for non-national-cemetery burial

If the veteran is buried in a private cemetery, the VA will provide a headstone or marker but it must be applied for separately. VA Form 40-1330 is the application. The headstone is shipped to the cemetery for installation; family pays the local installation cost (often modest).

Military funeral honors

The funeral home requests honors through the appropriate service branch. The minimum (two uniformed members, flag folding, Taps) is available for any honorably-discharged veteran. Larger honors detail (firing party, casket team) may require advance notice and is not always available.

Burial allowance

For service-connected deaths or veterans receiving VA pension at time of death, partial reimbursement of burial expenses is available. VA Form 21P-530. Amounts (current as of 2026):

• Service-connected death: up to ~$2,200
• Non-service-connected with pension: up to ~$893 plus plot allowance for non-national-cemetery burial
• Burial in national cemetery: separate allowances for transportation in some cases

Cremation vs. casket

National cemeteries accept both cremation and casket burial. The veteran can be:

• Casket buried in-ground
• Cremated and buried in-ground in an urn
• Cremated and inurned in a columbarium (above-ground niche)

Many veterans and families choose cremation for cost and logistical reasons. Both options receive the same memorial honors and headstone.

The burial flag

A US flag is provided to the family at no cost for the funeral. The flag is folded into the traditional triangle and presented to the next of kin during the funeral honors.

The flag is meant for the family. It often becomes a meaningful keepsake. A wood-framed display case is a common way to store it; some funeral homes provide one, otherwise it's an inexpensive item available online.

Headstone or marker choices

For burial in a national cemetery, the headstone is provided. The veteran's family chooses the design from approved options.

Standard government headstones include:

• Upright marble (the classic white headstones at Arlington)
• Flat granite or bronze (used in some cemeteries' newer sections)
• Niche markers (for columbaria)

The family can request a religious emblem from a list of approved emblems (over 70 are recognized, including all major religions and several non-religious symbols).

For private cemetery burials, the family chooses the cemetery and arranges installation, but the VA provides the marker itself.

Presidential Memorial Certificate

Almost no one knows about this. It's an engraved paper certificate signed by the sitting President, sent to the family of an eligible veteran. It's free.

Apply: VA Form 40-0247. Requires DD-214 and death certificate. Multiple copies can be requested for different family members.

Pre-planning options

A veteran who wants to plan their own burial in advance can apply for a Pre-Need Determination of Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery. This doesn't reserve a specific plot, but it confirms eligibility so the family doesn't have to scramble later.

VA Form 40-10007 is the pre-need application. Completed during the veteran's lifetime, kept with their important papers, used by the funeral home at the time of need.

Many veterans avoid this because it feels morbid. It's a kindness to family. The 30-minute paperwork upfront saves hours of administrative work during grief.

What family should be prepared for

A few practical things:

Locate the DD-214 in advance

Without it, scheduling is delayed. If the veteran lost theirs, the family can request a copy via SF-180 — but this takes weeks. Get it sorted in advance.

Know which discharge characterization

If the veteran has anything other than Honorable, eligibility for national cemetery burial may require a determination by the VA. OTH veterans often qualify but the determination takes time.

Identify next of kin clearly

The "next of kin" who receives the flag, signs paperwork, and makes burial choices is usually:

1. Spouse (if married)
2. Adult children
3. Parents
4. Siblings
5. Other adult relatives

Disputes between family members about who decides are unfortunately common, especially in blended families. A clearly-stated written wish from the veteran can prevent fights.

Discuss the veteran's wishes

Where do they want to be buried? National cemetery or near family? Cremation or casket? Religious or non-religious service? Honors or no honors?

These conversations are uncomfortable. They are also enormously valuable. Most veterans, asked directly, have specific preferences they haven't shared because no one asked.

Consider where the spouse will be buried

If the veteran's spouse predeceases the veteran, the spouse can be buried in the national cemetery first, with space reserved for the veteran later. If the veteran is buried first, the spouse can be buried with them later.

This affects choice of cemetery — many families pick a national cemetery near where the surviving spouse plans to live, for visiting.

State veterans cemeteries

In addition to national cemeteries, many states operate state veterans cemeteries. These often have:

• Lower or no costs (free for veterans, low cost for spouses in some states)
• Sometimes more available capacity than nearby national cemeteries
• Same military honors, headstones, and flag as national cemeteries

If a national cemetery isn't convenient, the state veterans cemetery is often the best alternative. Each state's veterans affairs office has the details.

Resources

• National Cemetery Scheduling Office: 1-800-535-1117
• VA Burial Benefits Office: 1-800-827-1000
• National Cemetery Administration: cem.va.gov (find a national cemetery, eligibility checker, applications)
• Arlington National Cemetery: arlingtoncemetery.mil
• VA forms: va.gov/find-forms

What to remember

Veterans have earned a substantial set of burial benefits — most of it at no cost, much of it overlooked. The single most useful thing family can do in advance is locate the DD-214, discuss wishes, and complete the Pre-Need Eligibility application if the veteran is older or in declining health.

When the time comes, the funeral home walks the family through the immediate steps. But knowing what's available — national cemetery vs. local, headstone choices, military honors, flag, certificate, allowance, Arlington eligibility — means the family makes informed decisions instead of accepting whatever the funeral home defaults to.

The veteran in your family earned this package through their service. Make sure they get it.