How to get VA burial benefits — burial and plot allowances, national cemetery burial, headstone or marker, burial flag and Presidential Memorial Certificate
VA burial benefits come in several pieces, each with its own form. A burial allowance of up to $2,000 for a death related to a service-connected disability (for deaths on or after September 11, 2001), or — for deaths on or after October 1, 2026 — $1,032 toward burial and funeral costs plus $1,032 toward a plot when the veteran died while receiving VA compensation or pension, in VA care, or in other listed circumstances; apply on VA Form 21P-530EZ. Burial in a VA national cemetery at no cost (gravesite, opening and closing, liner, headstone or marker and perpetual care), which the family schedules at the time of need and veterans can pre-qualify for. A government headstone, marker or medallion (VA Form 40-1330), a burial flag (VA Form 27-2008) and a Presidential Memorial Certificate (VA Form 40-0247). Funeral directors handle much of this, but the family can file everything directly.
What you'll need
- The veteran's death certificate showing the cause of death, and the DD-214 or other separation documents
- VA Form 21P-530EZ (Application for Burial Benefits) and receipts for burial, funeral and transportation costs
- VA Form 40-1330 (headstone or marker), VA Form 27-2008 (burial flag), VA Form 40-0247 (Presidential Memorial Certificate)
- VA Form 40-10007 to pre-qualify a living veteran or family member for national cemetery burial
Step-by-step
Step 1: Burial and plot allowances — who qualifies and how much
The person who paid the costs and will not be reimbursed by anyone else may claim: a surviving spouse or legal-union partner, child or parent, the executor or administrator, another family member or friend, or the funeral home or cemetery. The veteran must not have a dishonorable discharge and must have died from a service-connected disability, while in VA care or traveling at VA expense for care, with a VA compensation or pension claim pending that would have been granted, while receiving VA compensation or pension, or while eligible for it but drawing military retired pay instead. Amounts: $2,000 for a service-connected death on or after September 11, 2001 ($1,500 before); for other eligible deaths on or after October 1, 2026, $1,032 for burial and funeral costs and $1,032 for a plot ($1,002 each for deaths from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026). VA also reimburses transporting the remains to a national cemetery, or when the veteran died in VA care. No allowance is paid for a death on active duty.
Reference: https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/veterans-burial-allowance/
Step 2: File VA Form 21P-530EZ
Apply online at VA.gov or mail VA Form 21P-530EZ with copies of the death certificate, separation documents and an itemized transportation receipt (if claiming transportation) to Department of Veterans Affairs, Pension Intake Center, PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365. Time limits: none for a service-connected death, for a plot or transportation allowance, or when the veteran died in VA care; otherwise the burial allowance claim must be filed within two years of the burial. Questions: 800-827-1000 (TTY 711), Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. ET.
Reference: https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/veterans-burial-allowance/
Step 3: Burial in a VA national cemetery
Veterans with a discharge other than dishonorable, and their spouses and dependent children, are generally eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery at no cost, including the gravesite, opening and closing, a grave liner, a headstone or marker and perpetual care; cremated remains are accepted. At the time of need the funeral director or family calls the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117 to arrange the burial. Living veterans and family members can apply in advance for a pre-need determination of eligibility on VA Form 40-10007 (online, by mail or fax; 855-840-8299), naming a preferred cemetery — VA cannot guarantee that cemetery, but the decision speeds planning. Arlington National Cemetery and state veterans cemeteries have their own processes.
Reference: https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/pre-need-eligibility/
Step 4: Headstone, marker or medallion
For a veteran buried in a private cemetery, a family member, personal representative, VSO representative or the person responsible for the arrangements can request a free government headstone, grave marker or niche marker on VA Form 40-1330 (or a bronze medallion to attach to a privately bought headstone), submitted online through QuickSubmit on AccessVA, by fax, or by mail to NCA FP Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 5237, Janesville, WI 53547, with a copy of the discharge document. Memorial headstones are available when remains were not recovered, buried at sea, donated to science or scattered. Help: 800-697-6947, Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ET. The cemetery may charge for setting the marker.
Reference: https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/memorial-items/headstones-markers/
Step 5: Burial flag and Presidential Memorial Certificate
A United States burial flag is provided for a veteran who served in wartime, served after January 31, 1955, died on active duty after May 27, 1941, or left peacetime service before June 27, 1950 after one enlistment or for a service-connected disability; the next of kin or a close friend completes VA Form 27-2008 and takes it to a funeral director, a VA regional office or a post office that stocks flags. A Presidential Memorial Certificate, signed by the current president, is presented automatically at a national cemetery burial; for a veteran eligible for national cemetery burial but buried elsewhere, family or close friends request it online or on VA Form 40-0247 mailed with the death certificate and discharge document to NCA FP Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 5237, Janesville, WI 53547. Multiple certificates can be requested.
Reference: https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/memorial-items/presidential-memorial-certificates/
Critical tips
- Funeral directors file most of these for free — ask before paying anyone for "form filing".
- If the DD-214 is missing, VA and the National Cemetery Scheduling Office will try to find the records; you do not have to delay the burial to request them yourself.
- A surviving spouse may also qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation or Survivors Pension — separate claims on VA Form 21P-534EZ.
- The burial and plot allowances are adjusted each October 1; check VA's table for the rate on the date of death.
- A county veterans service officer can file every one of these forms with the family for free: warriorsfund.org/find-cvso.
- In crisis: dial 988 then press 1, or text 838255.