The VA can help pay burial and funeral costs for many veterans who were not dishonorably discharged. For a service-connected death on or after September 11, 2001, the maximum is $2,000. For a death not related to service on or after October 1, 2026, it is $1,032 for burial and $1,032 for a plot (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).
You generally have 2 years from the burial to claim if the death was not service-connected.
Maximum allowance by date
| Type of death | Date of death | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Service-connected | On or after September 11, 2001 | $2,000 |
| Service-connected | Before September 11, 2001 | $1,500 |
| Not service-connected | On or after October 1, 2026 | $1,032 burial + $1,032 plot |
Amounts from the VA page last updated October 30, 2026. The non-service-connected amounts change each October 1; for earlier deaths, see the VA's full table (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).
Who qualifies
The veteran must not have been dishonorably discharged, and one of these must be true (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs):
- The veteran died as a result of a service-connected disability.
- The veteran died while getting VA care, at a VA facility or one contracted by the VA.
- The veteran died while traveling, with proper authorization and at VA expense, to or from an examination, treatment or care.
- The veteran had a VA compensation or pension claim pending at death and would have been entitled to benefits.
- The veteran was receiving, or was eligible for, VA pension or compensation at the time of death.
The person claiming must have paid the costs and must not be reimbursed by another organization.
Time limits
- Service-connected death: no time limit for the burial or transportation allowance.
- Not service-connected: within 2 years after the burial, with two exceptions: there is no limit if the veteran died under VA care, or if you are claiming only the plot, interment or transportation allowance (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).
What to send
- The veteran's death certificate, including the cause of death.
- An itemized receipt for transportation costs, if you paid them.
- A copy of the DD214 or other separation documents, which the VA recommends including.
Apply online or mail VA Form 21P-530EZ. The address and phone numbers are on the VA's burial allowance page.
Other VA benefits to ask about
The VA also provides headstones, markers and medallions for eligible veterans (National Cemetery Administration), and burial in a VA national cemetery. If the veteran received VA payments, those must be stopped after the death (USA.gov).
Common questions
Does a surviving spouse have to file a claim?
Not always. The VA says a surviving spouse listed on the veteran's profile does not need to file: when it receives notice of the death, it automatically pays a set amount to eligible surviving spouses.
Who can claim the allowance?
A surviving spouse or legal-union partner, a surviving child, a parent, the executor or administrator of the estate, a family member or friend, or a representative of a funeral home, cemetery or other organization, if they paid the costs and will not be reimbursed by anyone else.
Which form is it?
VA Form 21P-530EZ, Application for Burial Benefits. You can apply online or by mail.
Related guides
How much does a funeral cost?
National median funeral costs, what a funeral home must show you under the FTC Funeral Rule, and a worksheet to total the price list you were given.
What to do when someone dies
A step-by-step checklist for the first hours, the first week and the first months after a death, with the official agencies to notify.
Sources
- Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Headstones, markers and medallions, National Cemetery Administration (VA). Checked November 7, 2026.
- Agencies to notify when someone dies, USA.gov. Checked November 7, 2026.
This guide explains general rules. It is not medical, legal or financial advice for your situation. Program rules and amounts change, usually each January (Medicare and Medicaid) and each October (VA). Confirm details with the agency or a qualified professional before you decide. See our editorial policy.