VA Burial & Memorial Benefits
A complete, plain-language guide to every burial and memorial benefit veterans and their families have earned through military service.
What the VA Provides
These benefits are available at no cost to eligible veterans. Most families don't claim all of them.
Non-service-connected death
Service-connected death
cemetery burial
grave marker
VA Burial Allowance
Up to $2,000 toward burial and funeral expenses. Learn who qualifies, how much is available, and how to apply.
Learn more →National Cemetery Burial
Free burial in one of 155+ national cemeteries — grave, liner, opening/closing, headstone, and perpetual care included.
Learn more →Military Funeral Honors
Every veteran is entitled to a flag, Taps, and honor guard — at no cost. Learn what to request and how.
Learn more →Headstones & Markers
The VA provides a free headstone, grave marker, or medallion for eligible veterans — whether in a national or private cemetery.
Learn more →Survivor & Dependent Benefits
Spouses and dependents of veterans may qualify for burial in a national cemetery, DIC payments, and other survivor benefits.
Learn more →Presidential Memorial Certificate
A signed certificate from the President honoring the veteran's service — provided free by the VA to next of kin.
Apply via VA.gov →⚠️ The Benefits Gap
Even with all VA benefits combined, most families still face a significant out-of-pocket expense. The VA burial allowance ($978) covers a fraction of the average funeral cost ($7,000–$13,000). Pre-planning with a preneed insurance policy can fill this gap.
Calculate Your Gap →