VA Burial Benefits for Veterans and Spouses (2026)

VA burial and memorial benefits help cover the cost of laying a veteran to rest and honor their service, often at little or no cost to the family. Most veterans who did not receive a dishonorable discharge can be buried in a VA national cemetery for free, and a veteran's spouse and dependent children can often be buried there too.

This guide explains what the VA provides, who qualifies (including spouses and surviving spouses), the 2026 burial allowance amounts, how to file, and what a surviving spouse can receive.

In This Guide

• Key Takeaways
• Burial in a VA National Cemetery
• Can a Spouse Be Buried in a VA National Cemetery?
• Who Is Eligible for VA Burial Benefits
• 2026 Burial Allowances
• How to Apply for VA Burial Benefits
• Other Survivor Benefits
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Learn More

Burial in a VA National Cemetery

The most valuable burial benefit is also the easiest to overlook: an eligible veteran can be buried in a VA national cemetery at no cost to the family.1

That benefit covers more than the plot. When a veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, the VA provides:1

• A gravesite
• Opening and closing of the grave
• Perpetual care of the gravesite
• A government-furnished headstone or marker (or a medallion for a private headstone)
• A burial flag to drape the casket or accompany the urn
• A Presidential Memorial Certificate, an engraved certificate signed by the President honoring the veteran's service

These memorial items, the government headstone or marker, the burial flag, and the Presidential Memorial Certificate, are available even when the veteran is buried in a private cemetery, not only in a national one.1

Can a Spouse Be Buried in a VA National Cemetery?

Yes, and this is the question families search for most. A veteran's spouse or surviving spouse (in many cases even if they later remarried) and the veteran's minor children, or in some cases an unmarried adult dependent child, can be buried in a VA national cemetery at no cost to the family, alongside the veteran.1 The same benefits that cover the veteran, the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, and perpetual care of the site, extend to an eligible family member's burial.

One point families often get wrong is the cash burial allowance. That reimbursement (the $1,002, or up to $2,000 for a service-connected death, covered below) is paid on the veteran's death, to whoever paid the veteran's funeral and burial costs, which is often the surviving spouse.4 A surviving spouse's own later death does not trigger a separate VA cash burial allowance, but the spouse can still be buried in a national cemetery at no cost under the benefit above. If you are unsure whether a spouse or child qualifies, an accredited Veterans Service Officer can confirm eligibility before you make arrangements.

Who Is Eligible for VA Burial Benefits

Most veterans qualify for VA burial and memorial benefits. Eligibility generally extends to:1

• Most veterans who did not receive a dishonorable discharge
• Service members who died on active duty
• In many cases, the veteran's spouse, surviving spouse, and dependent children

If a veteran received an other-than-honorable or bad-conduct discharge, the family is not automatically shut out. A character-of-discharge review or a discharge upgrade may restore eligibility.1 If you are unsure whether a discharge qualifies, an accredited Veterans Service Officer can review the record before you assume the answer is no.

2026 Burial Allowances

Beyond a free national cemetery burial, the VA pays burial allowances, monetary reimbursements toward funeral, burial, and plot costs. The amount depends on whether the veteran's death was connected to their military service. The figures below are effective for deaths on or after October 1, 2025.1

For a service-connected death, the VA may also reimburse some or all of the cost of transporting the veteran's remains to the national cemetery.1

Burial-allowance amounts are adjusted each October 1, so the $1,002 figures reflect the rates effective October 1, 2025 (up from $978 the prior year).1

How to Apply for VA Burial Benefits

To claim a burial allowance, file VA Form 21P-530EZ (Application for Burial Benefits). You can submit it online at VA.gov, by mail, or in person.1

The burial allowance is paid as a reimbursement to the person who paid the veteran's burial and funeral costs, not as a flat benefit to the estate. So before you file, gather proof that the bills were paid and keep your own copies.4

To process the claim, the VA reviews two things: proof of death and proof of what was paid. Have these ready:4

• The veteran's death certificate (acceptable proof of death, including the cause of death).
• Proof of the funeral and burial expenses: either receipted bills showing you paid in whole or in part, or a statement of account on the funeral director's or cemetery owner's letterhead that names the veteran and itemizes the services, their cost, any credits, and the unpaid balance.
• A copy of the veteran's DD214 or other separation documents covering all service periods (recommended, so the VA can confirm eligibility).
• If you are also claiming the cost of transporting the veteran's remains, an itemized transportation receipt in your name.

In many cases the VA pays an eligible surviving spouse a set plot, interment, or transportation amount automatically, without a separate application.4

Pay attention to the filing deadlines:1

• There is no time limit to file when the death was service-connected, or when a non-service-connected death occurred while the veteran was in a VA health facility or a VA-contracted facility.
• For other non-service-connected deaths, the claim must generally be filed within 2 years of the veteran's burial or cremation.

A free, accredited Veterans Service Officer can help you complete and file the form correctly, which matters most when a deadline is approaching.

Other Survivor Benefits

Burial benefits are a one-time settlement of funeral and memorial costs. A surviving spouse or dependent may also qualify for ongoing monthly income through two separate VA programs.

• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-free monthly benefit for eligible survivors of service members who died in the line of duty or of veterans whose death resulted from a service-connected condition.2 The 2026 base rate for an eligible surviving spouse is $1,699.36 per month, with additional amounts available for those who need aid and attendance, are housebound, or have dependent children.2
• Survivors Pension is a needs-based, tax-free benefit for a low-income, un-remarried surviving spouse (or unmarried dependent child) of a deceased wartime veteran.3 For December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026, the basic maximum is $11,699 per year ($975 per month) for a surviving spouse with no dependents, rising to $18,697 per year ($1,558 per month) with aid and attendance.3

A survivor who is eligible for both DIC and Survivors Pension is paid whichever benefit is greater, not both at once.2 Our dedicated guides walk through each program in detail (see Learn More below).

Learn More

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