It is a common misconception that the Department of Veterans Affairs will pay for all funeral costs when a veteran passes. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs will only provide a reimbursement of some burial and/or transportation costs. Although burial in a Veterans Cemetery does not have a cost for the Veteran only, the Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide payment for services rendered between the Veterans time of passing until they reach their final resting place. They may however, provide a burial allowance based on what the Veteran passed from.

Burial Allowances

Burial allowances are a one-time monetary benefit paid to the individual who covered a Veteran’s funeral and burial expenses. The benefit amount varies depending on the circumstances of the Veteran’s death.

To apply or learn more about these benefits, please contact your local Veterans Service Officer (VSO). To process a claim, you will need to provide:

• A paid-in-full funeral invoice

• The Veteran’s death certificate

• Discharge documents (such as DD-214)

Benefit Types

Service-Connected Burial Allowance

If the Department of Veterans Affairs determines that the Veteran’s death was service-connected, a one-time payment of:

• $2,000 will be issued to the individual who paid for funeral expenses

There is no time limit to file a claim for this benefit.

Non-Service-Connected Burial Allowance

If the Department of Veterans Affairs determines that the Veteran’s death was not related to military service, but the Veteran was otherwise eligible:

• A one-time payment of $978 may be issued

• An additional up to $978 may be provided for transportation costs

Claims for non-service-connected burial benefits must be filed within two years of the Veteran’s passing.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for burial allowances, all of the following conditions must be met, along with at least one qualifying circumstance:

Basic Requirements

• You paid for the Veteran’s burial or funeral, and

• You have not been fully reimbursed by another government agency or source, and

• The Veteran was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable

At Least One of the Following Must Also Apply

• The Veteran died as a result of a service-related disability, or

• The Veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death, or

• The Veteran was entitled to receive VA pension or compensation but chose not to reduce military retirement or disability pay, or

• The Veteran died while hospitalized by the VA or receiving care under VA contract, or

• The Veteran died while traveling under VA authorization for examination, treatment, or care, or

• The Veteran had a pending claim for compensation or pension that was later approved effective prior to death, or

• The Veteran died while a patient in a VA-approved State Veterans nursing home

Need Assistance?

If you need help determining eligibility or applying for burial allowances, please contact your local Veterans Service Officer. We are here to guide you through the process and ensure you receive the benefits you are entitled to.