Burial and Survivor Benefits for Veterans

Đang chơi bàiLearn about burial and survivor benefits for veterans and how to access them.

at no cost. They are also usually eligible for free memorial items including:

• Đang chơi bàiHeadstones, markers, and medallions

• Burial flag

• Đang chơi bàiPresidential Memorial Certificate

Learn .

Veterans Burial Benefits and Death Benefits at Private Cemeteries

 

The veteran’s family or representative can ), 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

is typically open to a:

• Đang chơi bàiVeteran of the armed forces

• Service member who died while on active duty

• Đang chơi bàiVeteran’s spouse

• Đang chơi bàiVeteran’s minor child

 

Apply in advance to .  If you do qualify, you’ll get the confirmation in a pre-need decision letter.

Arlington National Cemetery

is different. Only active duty, military retirees, former prisoners of war, and recipients of the Purple Heart and other top awards can be buried there. But other veterans may be eligible for above-ground inurnment. 

Đang chơi bàiSpouses and minor children of eligible service members and veterans can be buried at Arlington too.

State Veterans Cemeteries

Requirements for burial in a state veterans cemetery are like those for VA cemeteries. They may also have residency requirements. 

 

Schedule a Burial for a Veteran or Family Member

Schedule a Burial at a National Cemetery

Đang chơi bàiIf the veteran or spouse confirmed their eligibility in advance and received a pre-need decision letter, call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117 to start your request. 

Đang chơi bàiIf eligibility was not pre-determined, that will have to happen first.

Schedule a Burial at Arlington National Cemetery

Đang chơi bài, call the ANC customer service center, 1-877-907-8585. 

Schedule a Burial at a State Veterans Cemetery

Đang chơi bàiThe VA does not manage burials at state, territorial, or tribal veterans cemeteries. 

Đang chơi bài . 

Veterans - You can sign-up for for a limited time after you’re discharged. 

Survivor Benefits Plans for Military Retirees

Your pension ends when you die unless you sign up for a survivor (death) benefit plan when you retire. The plan offers a monthly annuity for your survivors. 

• Active-duty retirees can enroll in the military’s .

• Đang chơi bàiReserve and National Guard retirees can enroll in the .

If you’re the survivor of a:

• Department of Defense military retiree, report the death to the

• Coast Guard retiree, contact the

Benefits for Survivors of Veterans

You may qualify for if you are the survivor of a: 

• Service member or veteran whose death was service-connected

• Veteran whose total disability was service-connected but their death was not

For more information, contact the VA.

across the United States and U.S. territories. To find the burial location of a veteran, use the . Most of the cemeteries have a map to help you pinpoint the grave location before you visit. 

The most famous national cemetery is near Washington, D.C. The U.S. Army maintains ANC. Besides there, you can also search for the graves of U.S. presidents and other prominent figures. 

Overseas Military Cemeteries

The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) manages overseas military cemeteries, memorials, monuments, and markers. Most of these sites honor Americans who served in World War I or World War II. The ABMC website can help you:

• for individuals buried or memorialized overseas  

Đang chơi bàiLast Updated: March 13, 2020