VA Burial Allowance: How Much and How to Apply

The VA burial allowance is a payment that helps cover some of the cost of a veteran’s burial and funeral. It is not a full reimbursement, and the amounts are small compared with most funeral bills. But it is worth claiming, and many families miss it. The amounts below come from VA.gov, last updated October 7, 2026.

How much does the VA burial allowance pay?

It depends on whether the death was service-connected and on the date of death. These are the maximums:

Veteran’s death	Burial and funeral allowance	Plot allowance
Service-connected, on or after September 11, 2001	Up to $2,000
Service-connected, before September 11, 2001	Up to $1,500
Not service-connected, on or after October 1, 2026	$1,032	$1,032
Not service-connected, October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026	$1,002	$1,002
Not service-connected, October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025	$978	$978

The VA also pays up to $441 toward a headstone or marker the family buys privately, for veterans who died on or after October 1, 2025. The non-service-connected amounts are raised each October 1, and the VA’s page lists the rate for every earlier year, so use the row that matches the date of death.

Is it the same as free burial in a national cemetery?

No. They are separate benefits. Burial in a VA national cemetery has no charge for the gravesite, for opening and closing the grave, for a liner, or for setting the marker, according to the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Georgia. If a veteran is buried in a national cemetery, the VA may also reimburse some or all of the cost of moving the remains there. The allowance matters most when a veteran is buried in a private cemetery. See Veterans Burial Benefits: The Complete Guide for the full list of benefits.

Who can get the allowance?

Someone who paid for the burial and funeral and will not be repaid by another organization. The VA says that can be the surviving spouse or partner, a child, a parent, the executor of the estate, another relative or friend, or even a representative of a funeral home or cemetery. The veteran must not have received a dishonorable discharge, and one of these must also be true:

• The death was caused by a service-connected disability.
• The veteran died while receiving VA care, in a VA facility or one the VA contracts with.
• The veteran was traveling at VA’s expense for care or an exam.
• The veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation.
• A claim for compensation or pension was pending, and the veteran would have been entitled to benefits.
• The veteran was eligible for VA compensation or pension but received full military retirement or disability pay instead.

The VA does not pay the allowance for a person who died on active duty, while serving in Congress, or while serving a federal prison sentence.

What is the deadline?

It depends on the type of claim. There is no time limit if the death was service-connected. For a death that was not service-connected, you must file within two years after the burial, unless the veteran died under VA care, or you are claiming only the plot or interment allowance or transportation. Those have no time limit. Do not wait: apply as soon as you have the funeral bill.

How do I apply?

Online at VA.gov or by mail with VA Form 21P-530EZ, Application for Burial Benefits. The VA says you may need:

• The veteran’s death certificate, showing the cause of death
• An itemized receipt, if you paid to transport the remains
• A copy of the veteran’s DD-214 or other separation papers (recommended). If you do not have them, see How to Get Military Records for VA Benefits.

For a service-connected death, the VA also recommends sending medical records. Mail the form and papers to Department of Veterans Affairs, Pension Intake Center, PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365. A funeral home or an accredited Veterans Service Officer can help with the paperwork, usually at no charge.

Does a surviving spouse need to file?

Not always. The VA says that a surviving spouse listed on the veteran’s profile does not need to file a claim. When the VA is told of the death, it automatically pays a set amount to eligible spouses toward the plot, the interment, or transporting the remains.

What if no one claims the veteran’s remains?

The VA will pay the person or organization responsible for the burial, using the same rates. For what happens in that situation more broadly, see What Happens to an Unclaimed Body?.

Where can I learn more?

See Typical End-of-Life Costs for how this fits with other costs, Veterans Headstones and Markers for the free government marker, and Funeral Assistance Programs for other sources of help.

Amounts are the VA’s published maximums as of October 2026 and change every October 1. Confirm current figures and deadlines on VA.gov or with a Veterans Service Officer.