For a veteran who dies on or after October 1, 2026, the VA burial allowance is up to $1,032 toward burial and funeral costs plus up to $1,032 toward a plot or interment when the death was not service-connected. When the death was service-connected, the VA pays up to $2,000 (for deaths on or after September 11, 2001). Separately, eligible veterans, spouses and many dependent children can be buried in a VA national cemetery at no cost, with the gravesite, grave opening and closing, a liner, a headstone or marker, and perpetual care all included. These amounts come from the VA burial allowance page, which VA last updated on October 30, 2026.
The VA updates these allowances every October 1, so the year that matters is the date of death, not the date you file. The rates below run from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. The allowance is a reimbursement capped at these amounts, not a flat payment, and it covers only part of a typical funeral. The gap table further down shows how much a family usually still has to pay.
VA Burial Allowance Chart: 2026-2027 Amounts
| Type of death | Burial and funeral allowance | Plot or interment allowance | Transportation |
|---|
| Service-connected death, on or after Sept. 11, 2001 | Up to $2,000 | Not listed separately | VA may pay some or all of the cost of moving remains to a VA national cemetery |
| Service-connected death, before Sept. 11, 2001 | Up to $1,500 | Not listed separately | Same as above |
| Non-service-connected death, on or after Oct. 1, 2026 | Up to $1,032 | Up to $1,032 | Paid if the veteran died in VA care or while traveling to VA-authorized care |
| Non-service-connected death while hospitalized by VA, on or after Oct. 1, 2026 | Up to $1,032 | Up to $1,032 | VA may pay some or all of the cost of moving the remains |
Source: VA, "Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits" (va.gov/burials-memorials/veterans-burial-allowance).
A few rules shape what you actually get:
- The plot allowance is for burial outside a national cemetery. Federal law (38 U.S.C. 2303) pays it when the veteran is not buried in a national cemetery or another cemetery run by the United States. If the veteran goes to a VA national cemetery, the gravesite is already free, so there is no plot to pay for.
- The allowance pays back costs you paid yourself. You cannot claim money that another source, like a government agency or the veteran's employer, already reimbursed.
- Cremation counts. VA pays burial benefits for all legal burial types, including cremation, burial at sea, and donating the body to a medical school.
VA Burial Allowance by Year of Death
Because the rate depends on the date of death, families filing late for a veteran who died in an earlier year need the older figures. Here are the non-service-connected amounts for recent years.
| Date of death | Burial allowance | Plot or interment allowance | Combined maximum |
|---|
| On or after Oct. 1, 2026 | $1,032 | $1,032 | $2,064 |
| Oct. 1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2026 | $1,002 | $1,002 | $2,004 |
| Oct. 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2025 | $978 | $978 | $1,956 |
| Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024 | $948 | $948 | $1,896 |
| Jan. 5, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2023 | $893 | $893 | $1,786 |
| Oct. 1, 2022 to Jan. 4, 2023 | $300 | $893 | $1,193 |
Before January 5, 2023, a veteran who died outside VA care got a much smaller $300 burial allowance. A 2022 change in law raised it to match the higher rate VA already paid for deaths in VA care, which is why both rates have been the same ever since.
VA's page also lists a maximum headstone or marker allowance of $420 for deaths on or after October 1, 2026, down from $441 the year before. The page does not say who this is paid to. Most families get a government headstone, marker or medallion free instead of a cash allowance, so ask VA before counting on this money.
Who Qualifies for the VA Burial Allowance
Two sets of rules apply: one for the veteran and one for the person filing.
Rules for the veteran
The veteran must not have received a dishonorable discharge, and at least one of these must be true:
- The veteran died from a service-connected disability.
- The veteran died while getting VA care, at a VA facility or a facility under contract with VA.
- The veteran died while traveling, with VA authorization and at VA's expense, to or from an exam, treatment or care.
- The veteran had an original or reopened claim for VA compensation or pension pending at death and would have been entitled to benefits before dying.
- The veteran was receiving VA pension or disability compensation at death.
- The veteran was eligible for VA compensation or pension at death but received full military retirement or disability pay instead.
VA does not pay burial allowances for someone who died on active duty, while serving as a member of Congress, or while serving a federal prison sentence. Deaths on active duty fall under Department of Defense survivor programs instead.
This is the part many families miss: a veteran who was not service-connected, was not getting VA pension or compensation, had no pending claim, and did not die in VA care usually does not qualify for the cash allowance. That veteran can still qualify for free burial in a national cemetery, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and military funeral honors.
Rules for the person filing
You must be paying the burial and funeral costs yourself, and you must be one of these:
| Who can file | Notes |
|---|
| Surviving spouse | Same-sex marriages count. A spouse listed on the veteran's VA profile may be paid automatically (see below) |
| Surviving partner from a legal union | A relationship formalized in a document issued by the state |
| Surviving child or parent | |
| Executor or administrator of the estate | |
| Another family member or friend | Even if not the executor |
| Funeral home, cemetery or other organization | Including when the veteran's remains are unclaimed |
Automatic payment for surviving spouses
A surviving spouse who is listed as the veteran's spouse on the veteran's VA profile does not need to file. When VA gets notice of the death, it automatically pays a set amount to eligible surviving spouses to help with the plot, interment or transportation. That automatic payment may not cover everything you paid, so call VA to ask whether filing a claim would add anything.
What a VA National Cemetery Burial Includes
For anyone who qualifies, VA lists these at no cost to the family:
| Benefit | Who gets it |
|---|
| Gravesite in a VA national cemetery with space | Veteran, spouse or surviving spouse (even if remarried), minor children, and some unmarried adult dependent children |
| Opening and closing of the grave | Same |
| Government burial liner | Same |
| Government headstone or marker | Same |
| Perpetual care of the gravesite | Same |
| Burial flag | Veterans, service members and reservists |
| Presidential Memorial Certificate | Veterans, service members and reservists |
| Military funeral honors (from the Department of Defense) | Veterans, service members and reservists |
A national cemetery burial does not pay the funeral home. Embalming, a casket, a viewing, and the service itself are still the family's bill, which is where the cash allowance helps. Many states also run veterans cemeteries with VA funding. Burial there is often free or low cost for the veteran, and spouses may pay a fee, depending on the state.
If you want to know in advance whether you or your spouse qualifies for a national cemetery, VA offers a pre-need eligibility decision. You apply with VA Form 40-10007, and VA keeps the decision on file.
The Funeral Cost Gap: What the VA Allowance Leaves Unpaid
The National Funeral Directors Association's most recent itemized national study (2023) is the best benchmark available. Its medians leave out cemetery charges, a monument and cash-advance items like flowers, so most real funerals cost more than these figures, and 2026 prices are likely higher than 2023's.
| Type of funeral | NFDA 2023 median | VA maximum, non-service-connected (2026-2027) | Left for the family | VA maximum, service-connected | Left for the family |
|---|
| Funeral with viewing and burial | $8,300 | $2,064 | about $6,236 | $2,000 | about $6,300 |
| Funeral with viewing, burial and vault | $9,995 | $2,064 | about $7,931 | $2,000 | about $7,995 |
| Funeral with viewing and cremation | $6,280 | $2,064 | about $4,216 | $2,000 | about $4,280 |
The non-service-connected figure assumes burial outside a national cemetery, since that is the only case where the plot allowance applies. In a national cemetery the plot allowance drops off, but so do the costs of a grave, opening and closing, and a marker, which the NFDA medians do not include anyway. Social Security's one-time $255 death payment, which goes to an eligible surviving spouse or child, closes only a small part of the gap.
For a full price breakdown by type of cremation and region, see our cremation cost guide.
Ways Families Cover the Rest
None of these is a recommendation of a particular company or plan. They are the common sources families use after VA benefits.
- VA life insurance (VALife). Veterans with any VA service-connected disability rating, even 0%, can get VALife whole life coverage of $10,000 to $40,000 in $10,000 steps, with no health questions, if they are 80 or younger. Full coverage starts 2 years after applying. If the veteran dies during those 2 years, the beneficiary gets back the premiums paid plus interest (VA lists 4.23% for deaths in 2026), not the full amount. Veterans 81 and older qualify only in narrow cases tied to a new rating.
- Existing life insurance. Check for a VGLI policy, an employer policy, or a policy bought years ago. The death benefit goes to the named beneficiary, who can use it for any expense, including the funeral.
- Final expense or burial insurance. These are small whole life policies sold to cover funeral costs. Premiums depend on age, health and the insurer, and no price is guaranteed until you get a quote and the policy is issued. Many policies with no health questions also have a waiting period before they pay in full, so read that section first.
- Savings or a prepaid funeral contract. If the veteran gets SSI or Medicaid, money set aside for a funeral can count against those benefits. Read our guide on how life insurance affects SSI and Medicaid before buying a policy or a prepaid plan.
- State and county burial aid. Many states, counties and state veterans affairs offices pay extra burial help for veterans or low-income families. Our guide to help paying for a funeral covers these and nonprofit options.
How to Apply for VA Burial Benefits
- Gather documents. You need a copy of the death certificate showing the cause of death. VA also recommends the veteran's DD214 or other separation papers for every period of service. If you paid to transport the remains, keep an itemized receipt in your name. For a service-connected death, the veteran's medical records help VA confirm the claim.
- Keep the funeral home's itemized bill. It shows what you paid and what is reimbursable.
- File VA Form 21P-530EZ, Application for Burial Benefits. You can apply online at va.gov or mail the form and copies of your documents to: Department of Veterans Affairs, Pension Intake Center, PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365.
- Authorize medical records if needed. If the veteran was treated at a VA or federal facility, you can send a statement on VA Form 21-4138. For private doctors, VA Forms 21-4142 and 21-4142a let VA request the records.
- Schedule a national cemetery burial separately. The funeral home usually calls the National Cemetery Scheduling Office. Ask the funeral director to request military funeral honors, a burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
- Order a headstone or medallion for a private cemetery. Use VA Form 40-1330 for a government headstone or marker, or VA Form 40-1330M for a medallion on a privately purchased headstone.
Filing deadlines
| Situation | Deadline |
|---|
| Service-connected death, burial or transportation allowance | No time limit |
| Non-service-connected death, burial allowance | Within 2 years after the burial |
| Non-service-connected death in VA care | No time limit |
| Plot, interment or transportation allowance (non-service-connected) | No time limit |
| Discharge upgraded from dishonorable after death | Within 2 years after the change |
For questions, VA lists hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET at its benefits line, 800-827-1000 (TTY: 711), or you can call your VA regional office. Surviving spouses may also qualify for monthly survivor pay, covered in our guides to VA DIC rates and benefits for veterans' spouses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the VA burial allowance for 2026-2027?
For a non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026, VA pays up to $1,032 for burial and funeral costs and up to $1,032 for a plot or interment, a combined maximum of $2,064. For a service-connected death on or after September 11, 2001, VA pays up to $2,000, plus possible transportation to a national cemetery.
Does every veteran get a burial allowance?
No. The cash allowance requires a service-connected death, a death in VA care or on VA-authorized travel, a pending VA claim, or VA pension or compensation at the time of death. Most honorably discharged veterans still qualify for free burial in a national cemetery, a headstone, a flag and military funeral honors.
Does the VA pay for the whole funeral?
No. The allowance is capped and usually covers a fraction of the bill. With NFDA's 2023 median of $8,300 for a funeral with viewing and burial, a family typically still owes more than $6,000 after the VA's maximum non-service-connected payment.
Is the VA burial allowance paid automatically?
Only to some surviving spouses. If you are listed as the spouse on the veteran's VA profile, VA automatically pays a set amount once it learns of the death. Everyone else, including children, executors and funeral homes, files VA Form 21P-530EZ.
Does the VA burial allowance cover cremation?
Yes. VA pays burial benefits for all legal burial types, including cremation and burial at sea. Cremated remains can also be placed in a VA national cemetery at no cost for those who qualify.
Can a spouse be buried in a VA national cemetery?
Yes. A veteran's spouse or surviving spouse is eligible, even after remarrying following the veteran's death. Minor children and some unmarried adult dependent children qualify too. The cash burial allowance, though, is for the veteran's burial, not the spouse's.
What year's rate applies if I file late?
The rate is based on the date of death, not the filing date. A veteran who died on September 15, 2026 falls under the $1,002 rate, while one who died on October 5, 2026 falls under the $1,032 rate.
