VA burial allowances are flat-rate dollar amounts paid for burial and funeral costs for Veterans who qualify. VA may also grant benefits for claims it receives for plot, interment, or transportation allowances. Certain conditions apply.

When the Veteran’s cause of death is service related, VA pays the benefit as a single, larger payment. When the cause of death is not service related, VA may be able to help with two small payments:

1. One for burial and funeral expense, and
2. One for the cemetery plot.

For some service-connected deaths, VA may reimburse some or all of the transportation costs.

To learn more, visit the Veterans Benefits Administration website and read the Burial and Plot Interment Allowance (PDF, 141 KB) fact sheet.

To qualify for benefits, a Veteran must have been discharged other than dishonorably, and must meet at least one of the conditions below:

• Died from a service-related disability.
• Was receiving VA pension or compensation.
• Was entitled to VA pension or compensation, but took their full military retirement or disability pay.
• Died while in a VA hospital or under care of a non-VA facility under VA contract.
• Died while in a VA-approved state nursing home.
• Had a claim pending prior to their date of death and are entitled to compensation or pension.
• Died while traveling to or from a specified place for examination, treatment, or care, under proper authorization and at VA expense.

National Guard and Reserve members who serve in active-duty military service (other than for training) qualify.

Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service (PHS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) qualify as active duty members and Veterans once discharged.

A VA regulation change in 2014 simplified the program to offer quick, efficient payment to eligible survivors. VA pays surviving spouses of record automatically upon notification of a Veteran’s death. They do not need to submit a claim.

Burial benefits not already paid to the surviving spouse will be paid to the first living person from the list below to file a claim:

• Veteran’s surviving spouse, or
• Survivor of a legal union with the Veteran, or
• Veteran’s children, regardless of age, or
• Veteran’s parents or surviving parent, or
• Executor or administrator of the Veteran’s estate.

To apply for the burial allowance, you must submit an Application for Burial Benefits (VA Form 21P-530, PDF, 933 KB). You should attach a copy of the veteran’s military discharge document (DD Form 214 or similar) and a death certificate. If you are claiming transportation expenses, please attach a receipt.

Mail your application to your state’s VA regional office. You can look up their address on our Find Locations page.