Veteran Death Benefits

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) accepts and reviews Pre-Need burial eligibility applications in the order they are received. This program allows veterans and eligible family members to determine their burial eligibility before it is needed, helping families plan with confidence.

Due to a high volume of applications, processing times may be longer than usual. The VA is currently focused on confirming receipt of applications and providing applicants with estimated timelines for eligibility determinations.

If a death has occurred and a burial needs to be scheduled at a national cemetery, immediate assistance is available. Contact your funeral service provider or the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117 for support.

For information about obtaining military records, please visit the Military Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, which is part of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

Please Visit:

 https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers Pre-Need Eligibility Determinations to help Veterans and their families plan ahead for burial in a national cemetery. To apply, submit VA Form 40-10007, Application for Pre-Need Determination of Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery, along with supporting military service documentation, such as a DD Form 214, if available.

Applications may be submitted by:

Fax: 1-855-840-8299

Email: NCA.Scheduling@va.gov

Mail: National Cemetery Scheduling Office, P.O. Box 510543, St. Louis, MO 63151

For additional information and resources, please visit the VA National Cemetery Administration website.

Scheduling a burial at Arlington National Cemetery is a detailed process, and each family's request is handled with care and professionalism. Timing varies based on eligibility verification, required documentation, special requests, chapel availability, and requests for full military honors. Because of these factors, scheduling may take several weeks to several months.

For more information, please visit the Arlington National Cemetery website.

The U.S. Department of the Navy offers a Burial at Sea program for eligible veterans and their family members. If you have questions about eligibility, required documentation, or the application process, contact the Navy Mortuary Affairs Office at 1-866-787-0081 for assistance.

For additional information about Burial at Sea benefits and eligibility requirements, please visit the VA website.

The VA's National Cemetery Administration maintains 155 national cemeteries in 42 states and Puerto Rico, along with 34 soldiers' lots and monument sites.

Arlington National Cemetery

Interment Services Branch

Arlington, VA 22211

703-607-8585

877-907-8585 (toll-free)

Many states also operate state veterans cemeteries for eligible veterans and their families.

The Department of the Army maintains Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. Soldiers' & Airmen's Home National Cemetery.

U.S. Soldiers' & Airmen's Home National Cemetery

21 Harewood Road, NW

Washington, DC 20011

202-829-1829

For additional information about national and state veterans cemeteries, please visit the VA website.

Upon your arrival at the cemetery you will be met by a cemetery representative who will provide the deceased’s burial documents. The cemetery representative will then lead your procession to the appropriate committal shelter for your service.

The National Cemetery Scheduling Office is responsible for verifying eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery. Veterans, service members, spouses, and dependents may qualify if they meet VA requirements.

You may be eligible if you are:

• A Veteran who did not receive a dishonorable discharge
• A service member who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training
• The spouse or minor child of an eligible Veteran
• In some cases, the unmarried adult dependent child of a Veteran

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes all legally valid marriages, including same-sex marriages, regardless of a Veteran's state of residence. Eligible spouses and surviving spouses may qualify for VA benefits and services based on marital status.

Veterans in same-sex marriages who believe they are eligible for benefits are encouraged to apply. Existing VA forms may still be used while updates are being made to reflect inclusive language and eligibility requirements.

For questions about benefits or completing an application, call the VA at 1-800-827-1000.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may provide a government-furnished headstone, marker, or medallion at no cost for eligible Veterans. These memorial items are available for qualifying Veterans buried in national, state veterans, military, and many private cemeteries.

Available options include:

• Upright headstones in granite or marble
• Flat markers in granite, marble, or bronze
• Bronze niche markers for cremated remains
• Veterans medallions for privately purchased headstones

Eligibility requirements and available options vary based on the Veteran's service history, date of death, and burial location.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides government-furnished headstones, markers, and medallions for eligible Veterans. Federal regulations outline the application process and requirements for requesting these memorial items.

Who Can Apply for a Headstone or Marker?

• A family member of the deceased Veteran
• A personal representative
• A representative of a Congressionally chartered Veterans Service Organization
• A state or local government employee who serves Veterans as part of their official duties
• An individual responsible for the disposition of unclaimed remains or memorialization arrangements
• In certain cases, any individual if the Veteran's service ended before April 6, 1917

For memorial headstones and markers, the applicant must be a member of the Veteran's family.

Who Can Apply for a Medallion?

• A family member of the deceased Veteran
• A personal representative
• A representative of a Congressionally chartered Veterans Service Organization
• A state or local government employee who serves Veterans
• An individual responsible for the Veteran's interment or memorialization arrangements

A Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is an engraved paper certificate, signed by the current President, to honor the memory of deceased Veterans who are eligible for burial in a national cemetery.

"Honoring Those Who Served"

The Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for providing military funeral honors. "Honoring Those Who Served" is the title of the DOD program for providing dignified military funeral honors to Veterans who have defended our nation.

Upon the family's request, Public Law 106-65 requires that every eligible Veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony, to include folding and presenting the United States burial flag and the playing of Taps. The law defines a military funeral honors detail as consisting of two or more uniformed military persons, with at least one being a member of the Veteran's parent service of the armed forces. The DOD program calls for funeral home directors to request military funeral honors on behalf of the Veterans' family. 

However, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration cemetery staff can also assist with arranging military funeral honors at VA national cemeteries. Veterans organizations may assist in providing military funeral honors. When military funeral honors at a national cemetery are desired, they are arranged prior to the committal service by the funeral home.

The Department of Defense began the implementation plan for providing military funeral honors for eligible Veterans as enacted in Section 578 of Public Law 106-65 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2000 on Jan. 1, 2000.

Questions or comments concerning the DOD military funeral honors program may be sent to the address listed below. The military funeral honors Web site is located at

https://mfh.dmdc.osd.mil/mfh/

[Link will take you off

the VA web site.]

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense

(Military Community and Family Policy)

4000 Defense Pentagon, Room 5A726

Washington, DC 20380

To arrange military funeral honors, contact your local funeral home.

The VA provides a United States burial flag to honor eligible Veterans and Reservists. A burial flag may be requested by the Veteran's next of kin or a close friend.

A Veteran or Reservist may be eligible if they:

• Served during wartime
• Died while on active duty after May 27, 1941
• Served after January 31, 1955
• Served during peacetime and completed at least one enlistment, or were discharged due to a service-related disability
• Served in the Selected Reserves (in certain cases)
• Served in the military forces of the Philippines in service to the United States and died on or after April 25, 1951

For additional eligibility information, call 800-827-1000, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.

VA burial allowances are financial benefits that help cover eligible burial and funeral expenses for Veterans. In many cases, eligible surviving spouses receive this benefit automatically after the VA is notified of the Veteran's death. Additional benefits, such as plot, interment, or transportation allowances, may also be available.

If the benefit is not paid automatically, the VA will pay the first eligible person to file a claim, including:

• The Veteran's surviving spouse

The survivor of a qualifying legal union

The Veteran's children, regardless of age

The Veteran's parent or surviving parent

The executor or administrator of the Veteran's estate

Eligibility and benefit amounts are determined by VA guidelines and individual circumstances.

The Veterans Benefits Administration offers a variety of benefits and services to spouses, children, and parents of Servicemembers and Veterans who are deceased or totally and permanently disabled by a service- connected disability.

Disinterments from a national cemetery are generally approved only when all living immediate family members provide written consent or when a court order directs the disinterment. Immediate family members may include the surviving spouse, adult children, guardians of minor children, and, in some cases, the decedent's parents.

Requests for disinterment must be submitted using VA Form 40-4970, Request for Disinterment, and include:

• A statement explaining the reason for the request

Notarized consent from all eligible immediate family members

A notarized statement confirming that all living immediate family members have been identified

A court order from a court of competent jurisdiction may be accepted in place of these documents.

Burial benefits available for Veterans buried in a private cemetery may include a Government headstone, marker or medallion, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, at no cost to the family. 

Some Veterans may also be eligible for Burial Allowances. There are not any VA benefits available to spouses and dependents buried in a private cemetery.

The Nationwide Gravesite Locator helps families find the burial locations of Veterans and their eligible family members. The database is updated daily and includes records from VA national cemeteries, state veterans cemeteries, military cemeteries, and some private cemeteries with government-furnished grave markers.

Search results may vary depending on the information available from each source. Records for Veterans buried in private cemeteries are generally available only when a government grave marker was provided, and information prior to 1997 may be limited.

If you find incorrect information, contact the cemetery directly or use the "Contact Us" option on the Gravesite Locator website for assistance.

Website: https://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers dedicated phone numbers for health care, benefits, burial services, education benefits, caregiver support, crisis assistance, and more.

Frequently used numbers include:

• MyVA411 (General Information): 800-698-2411 (available 24/7)
• VA Benefits Hotline: 800-827-1000
• VA Health Benefits Hotline: 877-222-8387
• National Cemetery Scheduling Office: 800-535-1117
• Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 (available 24/7)

For the most current phone numbers, hours of operation, and program-specific contact information, please visit the official VA contact page.