Veterans' Funeral Benefits and Honors: What Families Need to Know
If you're planning a funeral for a veteran, you're entitled to more help than most funeral directors will bring up on their own. The federal government provides veterans' funeral benefits and honors that cover burial costs, military honors at the graveside, a flag for the casket, and a permanent marker — often at no cost to the family. This guide walks you through what's available, who qualifies, and how to request each benefit without getting buried in paperwork.
You're likely doing this for the first time, probably on short notice, and probably while grieving. The good news? Most of these benefits can be requested with a single document — the veteran's DD Form 214. Gather that first, and the rest becomes much easier.
The One Document That Unlocks Everything: DD Form 214
The DD Form 214 is the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. It's the single most important piece of paper in this process. Every benefit below requires it.
If you can't find the original, you can request a copy for free from the National Archives at archives.gov/veterans. Expedited requests for funeral purposes are usually processed within a few business days. Call the National Personnel Records Center directly at 314-801-0800 and tell them it's for an imminent funeral — they'll prioritize it.
Once you have the DD-214, make at least five photocopies. You'll need them for:
- The funeral home
- The cemetery (national or private)
- The VA burial allowance application
- The flag request
- The headstone or marker application
Burial in a National Cemetery
Any eligible veteran can be buried in a VA national cemetery at no cost. That includes:
- Opening and closing of the grave
- A grave liner
- A government headstone or marker
- Perpetual care of the grave
- A burial flag
- A Presidential Memorial Certificate
There are more than 155 national cemeteries across the country. The VA maintains a locator at cem.va.gov. Spouses and dependent children are also eligible for burial in the same gravesite, and the spouse's burial is free as well.
Here's the thing: you cannot reserve a gravesite in advance. National cemeteries assign plots at the time of need. Contact the cemetery directly — they handle scheduling, not the funeral home.
State Veterans Cemeteries
If a national cemetery isn't nearby, most states also run their own state veterans cemeteries. Eligibility rules and costs vary slightly by state, but many offer burial for free or at very low cost to residents who served.
Burial in a Private Cemetery
Veterans can also be buried in any private cemetery of the family's choosing. The VA benefits change a bit in this case. You won't get the free plot or opening and closing, but you're still entitled to:
- A free government headstone or marker (or reimbursement for a private one, up to a set amount)
- A burial flag
- Military funeral honors
- A Presidential Memorial Certificate
VA Burial Allowance: What the VA Pays
The VA burial allowance is a partial reimbursement for funeral and burial costs. The amounts depend on whether the death was service-connected.
Non-service-connected death: - Up to $978 toward burial and funeral expenses - Up to $978 toward a plot (if not buried in a national cemetery)
Service-connected death: - Up to $2,000 toward burial and funeral expenses - Transportation reimbursement to the nearest national cemetery
To apply, submit VA Form 21P-530EZ along with the DD-214, death certificate, and itemized funeral bill. You can file online at va.gov/burials-memorials or by mail. Most funeral directors will handle this paperwork if you ask, though you're welcome to file it yourself.
The good news? Applications are usually processed within 60 to 90 days, and payment goes directly to whoever paid the funeral bill.
Military Funeral Honors
Every eligible veteran is entitled to military funeral honors at no charge. This is separate from burial benefits — it applies whether the service is at a national cemetery, a church, a private graveside, or a cremation service.
Standard honors include:
- At least two uniformed members of the armed forces
- The ceremonial folding and presenting of the U.S. flag to the next of kin
- The playing of Taps, either by a live bugler or a ceremonial bugle recording
To request honors, the funeral director calls the Military Funeral Honors Coordinator for the veteran's branch of service. Each branch handles its own scheduling:
- Army: 502-613-8218
- Navy: 1-800-NAVY-MFH
- Air Force: Through the nearest base casualty office
- Marine Corps: 1-866-826-3628
- Coast Guard: 202-795-6637
Requests should be made as soon as the date and time are set. Honors teams are in high demand, especially on weekends and at major national cemeteries.
Full Military Honors
Full military honors are typically reserved for officers, those killed in action, and Medal of Honor recipients. In addition to standard honors, full honors can include a firing party (the three-volley salute), a color guard, a casket team, a band, and sometimes a caisson. Ask the branch coordinator whether the veteran qualifies.
Volunteer Honor Guards
If the active-duty honor guard can't staff the service, volunteer groups often step in. Organizations like the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and AMVETS run honor guard teams in most communities. The funeral director usually knows who to call locally.
The Burial Flag
Every eligible veteran receives a burial flag — a 5-by-9.5-foot U.S. flag that drapes the casket or accompanies the urn during the service. After the service, it's folded into the traditional triangle and presented to the next of kin.
To request one, file VA Form 27-2008. Most funeral directors do this automatically. You can also get a flag at any VA regional office or participating U.S. Post Office. There's no cost.
Families often ask what to do with the flag afterward. There's no rule. Many display it in a triangular flag case. Some donate it to a veterans' organization. Others pass it down as a family heirloom. Whatever you choose is right.
Headstones, Markers, and Medallions
The VA provides a free government headstone or marker for any eligible veteran, regardless of where they're buried. Options include:
- Upright marble headstone
- Flat granite, marble, or bronze marker
- Niche marker (for cremated remains in columbariums)
- Bronze medallion (to affix to an existing private headstone, indicating veteran status)
Apply using VA Form 40-1330. Processing takes about 60 days for delivery to a national cemetery, longer for private cemeteries where the family coordinates installation. The headstone includes the veteran's name, branch, dates of service, rank, awards, and an optional personal inscription.
Presidential Memorial Certificate
Every eligible veteran's family receives a Presidential Memorial Certificate — an engraved paper certificate signed by the current President, honoring the veteran's service. Request it using VA Form 40-0247. It's free, and families often frame it alongside the burial flag.
Benefits for Spouses and Dependents
Spouses and dependent children of eligible veterans have their own set of benefits:
- Burial in a national cemetery alongside the veteran (free)
- A government headstone or marker when buried in a national cemetery
- Inclusion in the veteran's Presidential Memorial Certificate paperwork (spouse's name can be added)
Spouses do not need to predecease or outlive the veteran — they can be buried in the national cemetery regardless. The benefit also generally extends to unmarried adult children who were permanently disabled before age 18.
Special Circumstances
A few situations come up often enough to flag separately.
Cremation: All veterans' burial benefits apply to cremated remains. Urns can be interred in a grave, placed in a columbarium niche, or scattered — though scattering at a national cemetery isn't permitted.
Dishonorable discharge: Veterans discharged under dishonorable conditions are not eligible for VA burial benefits or military honors. A general or other-than-honorable discharge may still qualify; the VA reviews case by case.
Reservists and National Guard: Members who served at least 20 years in the Selected Reserve and were eligible for retired pay generally qualify for honors and national cemetery burial. Shorter reserve service may qualify if the member was activated for federal service.
Merchant Marines: World War II Merchant Marines who served between December 1941 and August 1945 are eligible for veterans' benefits. Later merchant service generally is not.
A Practical Timeline
You might be wondering how all this fits together when you only have a few days. Here's a rough order of operations:
- First 24 hours: Locate the DD-214. Contact the funeral home and tell them the deceased is a veteran — they'll know the local coordinators.
- Within 48 hours: Decide on burial location (national cemetery, state veterans cemetery, or private). The funeral home will contact the cemetery and the honors coordinator.
- Before the service: Request the burial flag and confirm honors scheduling. Draft a brief bio for the honor guard if they plan to mention the veteran's service.
- After the service: Apply for the VA burial allowance (Form 21P-530EZ), the Presidential Memorial Certificate (Form 40-0247), and the headstone or marker (Form 40-1330) if buried in a private cemetery.
Most funeral homes that regularly serve veterans will guide you through each step. If yours doesn't, the VA's burial hotline at 1-800-535-1117 can walk you through what you need.
A Note on the Eulogy
If you're also the one giving the eulogy, the veteran's service is usually worth mentioning — but not by reading a service record aloud. Talk about who they were as a person, with their service as one thread in the story.
What did they say about their time in uniform? Was it the proudest thing in their life, or something they rarely discussed? Did the values they learned show up at home — the punctuality, the loyalty, the unflappability in a crisis? Those are the details that land.
"Dad never talked much about Vietnam. What he talked about was the guys. Every year at the reunion he'd come back with a different story — Ramirez, who could fall asleep standing up. Kowalski, who carried a harmonica through three tours. When I asked him once why he went back every year, he said, 'Because nobody else remembers them the way we do.' That's who Dad was. The keeper of other people's stories."
You don't have to make it patriotic. You just have to make it true.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for military funeral honors?
Any veteran who served on active duty or in the Selected Reserve and was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable qualifies. That includes peacetime service. You'll need a DD Form 214 or other proof of service to request honors.
What does the VA pay for a veteran's funeral?
For non-service-connected deaths, the VA pays up to $978 toward burial and funeral costs and up to $978 for a plot if not buried in a national cemetery. For service-connected deaths, the allowance can reach $2,000. A service-connected death also qualifies for transportation reimbursement to the nearest national cemetery.
Can a veteran's spouse be buried in a national cemetery?
Yes. Spouses, minor children, and in some cases unmarried adult dependent children are eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery at no cost. They can be buried there even before the veteran dies.
How do I request a flag for a veteran's casket?
The funeral director usually handles this by submitting VA Form 27-2008 with a copy of the DD-214. You can also get one at any VA regional office or USPS location that handles flag requests. There's no charge, and the family keeps the flag after the service.
What is the difference between full military honors and standard honors?
Standard honors include at least two uniformed service members, the folding and presenting of the flag, and the playing of Taps. Full honors — typically reserved for officers and those killed in action — add a casket team, firing party, color guard, and sometimes a caisson or band. Most veterans receive standard honors.
Related Reading
If you'd like more help, these may be useful:
Ready to Write the Eulogy?
Planning a veteran's funeral is a lot of logistics on top of a lot of grief. When it comes time to write the eulogy itself, you don't have to start from a blank page. If you'd like help shaping a personal, honest tribute that honors your loved one's service and the person they were at home, our service can draft a eulogy for you based on your answers to a few simple questions.
You can start at eulogyexpert.com/form. It takes about ten minutes, and you'll have something on paper the same day.