VA BURIAL & MEMORIAL BENEFITS
The VA honors veterans with dignified burial options, memorial items, and survivor benefits. Most burial benefits are available at no cost to eligible veterans and their families.
Visit VA Burials & Memorials Portal →BURIAL & MEMORIAL PROGRAMS
Benefits available for eligible veterans and their families
National Cemetery Burial
Veterans are eligible for burial in any of the 155 VA national cemeteries at no cost. This includes the gravesite, opening/closing of the grave, a government headstone or marker, and perpetual care.
Learn More at VA.gov →What's Included
- ✓Gravesite in a national cemetery at no cost
- ✓Opening and closing of the grave
- ✓Government headstone or marker
- ✓Burial flag provided
- ✓Presidential Memorial Certificate
- ✓Perpetual care of the gravesite
Burial Allowance
The VA provides burial allowances to help cover burial, funeral, and transportation costs for eligible veterans. Amount depends on whether the death was service-connected.
Learn More at VA.gov →What's Included
- ✓Service-connected death: up to $2,000 burial allowance
- ✓Non-service-connected death: up to $948 burial allowance
- ✓Plot allowance of $948 for non-national cemetery burial
- ✓Transportation allowance for remains to national cemetery
- ✓Additional allowance for unclaimed remains
Headstones, Markers & Medallions
The VA provides headstones, markers, and medallions to mark the graves of eligible veterans in any cemetery. Available for veterans buried in private cemeteries as well.
Learn More at VA.gov →What's Included
- ✓Government-furnished headstones and markers at no cost
- ✓Available for national, state, tribal, and private cemeteries
- ✓Bronze, granite, marble, or flat marker options
- ✓Presidential Memorial Medallion for private headstones
- ✓Replacement headstones available
Military Funeral Honors
All eligible veterans are entitled to military funeral honors, including the folding and presenting of the United States flag and the playing of Taps.
Learn More at VA.gov →What's Included
- ✓Minimum two-person uniformed military detail
- ✓Folding and presenting of the U.S. flag
- ✓Playing of Taps (live or recorded)
- ✓Full honors available for eligible veterans
- ✓Coordinated through local military installations
Presidential Memorial Certificate
A Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is a gold-embossed certificate signed by the current President, honoring the memory of honorably discharged veterans.
Learn More at VA.gov →What's Included
- ✓Gold-embossed certificate signed by the President
- ✓Available to next of kin and loved ones
- ✓Multiple copies can be requested
- ✓No time limit to apply
- ✓Available for all honorably discharged veterans
SURVIVOR BENEFITS
Benefits available to surviving spouses, children, and dependents
Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
Monthly tax-free payments to eligible surviving spouses, children, and parents of veterans who died in service or from service-connected disabilities.
Learn More at VA.gov →Survivors Pension
Tax-free monetary benefit for low-income, un-remarried surviving spouses and unmarried dependent children of wartime veterans.
Learn More at VA.gov →Dependent Educational Assistance (DEA)
Education and training benefits for eligible dependents and survivors of veterans with permanent and total service-connected disabilities or who died in service.
Learn More at VA.gov →EXPLORE MORE VETERAN BENEFITS
Discover all the benefits and services available to veterans and their families.