VA Burial Allowance: What the VA Pays When a Veteran Dies

The three separate benefits people mix up

First, the burial allowance: a cash reimbursement toward funeral costs, up to $2,000 when the death was service-connected, with lower fixed amounts for non-service-connected deaths plus a plot allowance when the veteran is buried outside a national cemetery. The exact non-service-connected amounts adjust each year, so check va.gov for current figures.

Second, free burial in a VA national cemetery: gravesite, opening and closing, perpetual care, headstone or marker, burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, all at no cost. The family still pays the funeral home for preparation and transport.

Third, monthly Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for eligible survivors when the death was service-connected. This one is worth the most over time and is the most commonly missed.

Why this can replace a county assistance program

For a family with no money, veteran status changes everything. A free plot and marker at a national or state veterans cemetery plus the burial allowance can bring out-of-pocket costs down to the price of a simple direct cremation or basic services, sometimes nearly nothing.

How to apply

File VA Form 21P-530EZ, Application for Burial Benefits. You can file online at va.gov, by mail, or through a county Veterans Service Officer, whose help is free. There is no deadline for service-connected burial allowance claims; non-service-connected claims must generally be filed within 2 years of burial.

Questions families ask

Straight answers