National Cemetery and Burial Benefits for Veterans
Federal burial benefits for veterans represent a concrete, congressionally established entitlement that covers interment costs, gravesite perpetual care, and memorialization — at no charge to the veteran's family in qualifying circumstances. These benefits are administered primarily by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through the National Cemetery Scheduling Office and the Veterans Benefits Administration. Understanding who qualifies, what specific benefits are available, and where the eligibility boundaries fall is essential for families navigating end-of-life planning. For a broader orientation to the full range of VA programs, the Veterans Benefits Overview page provides additional context.
Definition and scope
National cemetery and burial benefits are federal entitlements authorized under Title 38 of the U.S. Code, Chapter 23 and administered by the VA's National Cemetery Administration (NCA). The NCA maintains 155 national cemeteries across the United States and Puerto Rico, making it one of the largest cemetery systems in the world by geographic distribution.
These benefits exist in two administratively distinct categories:
- Burial in a national or state veterans cemetery — gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, liner or grave box, setting of a headstone or marker, and perpetual care of the gravesite, all at no cost to the family.
- Burial allowances — monetary payments to offset private burial costs when a veteran does not use a federal or state veterans cemetery.
The NCA is separate from the Department of the Army's Arlington National Cemetery, which operates under its own eligibility criteria and space-limitation policies. Eligibility for the NCA system does not automatically translate to eligibility for Arlington, and the two systems should not be treated as interchangeable.
How it works
Eligibility
The core eligibility threshold requires an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge. Veterans with other-than-honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharges require a character-of-discharge determination by the VA before burial benefits are granted. Discharge status is documented on the DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty); families should secure this record through the National Personnel Records Center before need arises. Information on obtaining service records is also covered in the Military Service Records Request reference.
Eligible individuals include:
Burial allowances
When private burial is chosen, the VA provides monetary allowances under 38 C.F.R. Part 36. Three distinct allowance rates apply:
- Service-connected death: The burial allowance for a death rated service-connected is set by statute and adjusted periodically; as of VA published tables, the amount is up to $2,000 for service-connected deaths (VA Burial Allowance Fact Sheet, VA.gov).
- Non-service-connected death: For veterans who die while receiving VA care or who were eligible for VA compensation but drawing pension instead, the allowance is up to $796 (VA.gov, rate tables updated for fiscal year adjustments).
- Plot or interment allowance: An additional plot allowance of up to $796 is available when burial is not in a national or state veterans cemetery.
These figures are subject to cost-of-living adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index; families should verify current rates directly with the VA at the time of need.
Headstones, markers, and medallions
The VA provides a Government-furnished headstone or marker at no cost for any eligible veteran buried anywhere in the world — including in private cemeteries. Applications are submitted via VA Form 40-1330. For veterans already marked with a private headstone, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a burial flag are separately available. Veterans who served honorably but whose graves were already privately marked can receive a bronze Veterans Medallion affixed to the existing headstone.
Common scenarios
Scenario 1: Veteran buried in a national cemetery at family request.
The family contacts the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117. No burial allowance is issued because direct burial costs are covered in full. The family receives a Government headstone or marker at no additional cost. Eligible dependents may later be interred in the same gravesite.
Scenario 2: Veteran dies of a service-connected condition, buried privately.
The family may claim the service-connected burial allowance (up to $2,000), the plot allowance (up to $796), and request a Government headstone or marker for the private grave. Total maximum reimbursement in this scenario reaches approximately $2,796 before applicable caps.
Scenario 3: Non-service-connected death, veteran not receiving VA care.
Burial allowance eligibility is restricted. The family may qualify for the plot allowance only if the veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation at time of death. Veterans not actively receiving VA benefits and not dying in VA care may receive no monetary allowance, though a Government headstone or marker remains available.
Scenario 4: Survivor of a veteran seeks independent burial.
Surviving spouses and dependent children are eligible for burial in the same national cemetery plot as the veteran but carry no independent entitlement to burial allowances. A surviving spouse's burial in a national cemetery is at no cost; a Government marker for the spouse is also provided at no cost.
Decision boundaries
National cemetery vs. private cemetery: key distinctions
| Factor | National Cemetery | Private Cemetery |
|---|---|---|
| Direct burial cost | No charge | Family bears cost; partial VA reimbursement available |
| Headstone/marker | Provided at no cost | Government marker can be provided at no cost |
| Eligibility for spouse | Yes, co-interment eligible | Spouse interred separately; no VA burial benefit for private grave |
| Perpetual care | Included | Not covered by VA |
| Availability | Subject to space at nearest cemetery | No space restriction from VA perspective |
Arlington National Cemetery: separate eligibility standard
Arlington operates under Department of the Army authority and applies substantially more restrictive eligibility criteria than the NCA system. As of Army policy guidance published at Arlington National Cemetery's official site, eligibility is generally limited to active-duty deaths, Medal of Honor recipients, prisoners of war, veterans with 20+ years qualifying service, and certain high-ranking officials. The NCA's 155-cemetery network has a broader eligibility base and serves the majority of veteran burial requests.
Claims filing boundary: 2-year filing window
Burial allowance claims must be filed within 2 years of the veteran's permanent burial or cremation (38 U.S.C. § 2302). Missing this window forfeits the monetary allowance entirely; the Government headstone and marker benefit carries no equivalent deadline.
Discharge status as a hard gateway
Burial benefits are blocked for veterans with dishonorable discharges unless a successful character-of-discharge determination is obtained. This determination is separate from a formal discharge upgrade — the VA conducts its own character review for burial purposes, but a formal upgrade through the Discharge Review Board or Board for Correction of Military Records can also resolve the issue. Families of veterans with contested discharges should initiate this process well before need arises.
Survivors entitled to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) may also find burial benefits interact with DIC eligibility determinations — both hinge on whether the veteran's death was service-connected. A death rated service-connected for DIC purposes will also unlock the higher service-connected burial allowance rate.
For a complete reference foundation covering the full scope of veteran entitlements — from healthcare and disability compensation to housing and memorial benefits — the Veterans Authority home page serves as the primary navigation point across all program areas.