Burial Benefits, Death Benefits, and Memorial Items for Veterans

Veterans can receive military funeral honors and memorial items whether they’re interred in a veterans cemetery or a private one.

If you’re a veteran and your discharge was not dishonorable, you can probably be buried in a national veterans cemetery. Arlington National Cemetery has stricter eligibility rules than other national cemeteries.  

Military Funeral Honors and Memorial Items 

Almost all veterans can receive military funeral honors at no cost. They are also usually eligible for free memorial items including:

• Headstones, markers, and medallions
• Burial flag
• Presidential Memorial Certificate

Learn how to apply for veterans memorial items.

Veterans Burial Benefits and Death Benefits at Private Cemeteries

Veterans buried in private cemeteries can receive military funeral honors and memorial items. 

The veteran’s family or representative can apply for a veterans burial allowance (or veterans death benefit), in certain cases. These include veterans receiving a VA pension or compensation. The burial allowance can help pay for burial, funeral, and transportation costs. It can’t be used for cremation, which is a funeral director service. 

Eligibility for Burial in National and State Veterans Cemeteries

VA National Cemeteries

Eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery is typically open to a:

• Veteran of the armed forces
• Service member who died while on active duty
• Veteran’s spouse
• Veteran’s minor child

See an interactive map and list of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries. 

Apply in advance to learn if you qualify for burial in a VA national cemetery.  If you do qualify, you’ll get the confirmation in a pre-need decision letter.