What Do VA Death Benefits Cover: Explore Funding Options

When a Veteran passes away, families rightly want to honor them with a respectful goodbye. For those who qualify, certain benefits and community help can help defray the costs of a Veteran’s funeral.

Military families often turn to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for financial assistance. It’s important to understand who may qualify for VA death benefits, what they include, and which costs families must cover. 

Who Can Receive Veteran Death Benefits?

Not every Veteran automatically qualifies for assistance, but many do. To be eligible, the Veteran must not have been dishonorably discharged and must also meet at least one of the following:

• Passed away from a service-connected disability
• Was receiving care from a VA facility
• Was receiving a VA pension

The benefit can usually be paid to the surviving spouse, child, parent, or another authorized representative. If you’re unsure, a funeral director familiar with Veterans’ services can help you check eligibility and complete the paperwork.

What VA Burial Benefits Cover

The VA provides several types of financial support to help honor a Veteran with dignity. These benefits can reduce major expenses, but families should know they don’t cover everything. 

What Kind of VA Benefits Are Available?

The VA offers different forms of assistance depending on where and how the Veteran is laid to rest:

• Burial Allowance – a partial reimbursement for funeral or burial costs
• Plot or Interment Allowance – helps with the cost of a gravesite or cremation placement
• Transportation Reimbursement – may help cover the cost of transporting your loved one’s remains

It’s important to understand that while the VA covers many logistical expenses (such as the gravesite, grave opening and closing, headstone or marker, and perpetual care in VA cemeteries), it does not pay for the funeral or memorial service itself.

However, VA burial benefits are flexible. They can be used for:

• Traditional burial
• Cremation with placement in a cemetery or columbarium
• Burial at sea
• Donation programs at medical schools

Burial in National, State, or Tribal Veterans Cemeteries

What the VA Covers:

• A gravesite or columbarium niche at no cost
• Opening and closing of the grave or niche
• A government-issued headstone or marker
• A burial flag and Presidential Memorial Certificate
• An honor guard and the playing of “Taps”
• Ongoing care and maintenance of the cemetery

What the VA Does Not Cover:

• The funeral or memorial service (chapel, clergy, flowers, music, etc.)
• A casket or urn
• The cremation process
• Transportation to the cemetery (in most cases)

Many families find it helpful to think of VA benefits as covering the resting place, while families provide the farewell ceremony.

VA Burial Allowances for Private Cemeteries

If you choose a private cemetery instead of a VA-managed one, you can still receive financial help. Here are the current benefits for qualifying Veterans:

• Service-Related Deaths – reimbursement up to $2,000
• Non-Service-Related Deaths – up to $948 for burial and $948 for the plot
• Memorial Items – a free government-issued headstone, marker, or medallion for eligible Veterans, no matter where they are laid to rest

What is the Time Limit for Applying for Veterans Benefits?

If your loved one had a non-service-connected death or you had unclaimed remains, you must file a claim within two years after the burial. There is no time limit for a service-related death, and if the loved one died while getting VA care. 

What Charities Help with Veteran Funerals?

While they may not provide grants explicitly for funding funerals, charities like Honor Our Fallen help coordinate with families, the military, and nonprofits to provide Veterans with a respectful goodbye. Other organizations like Patriot Guard Riders can provide escorts. The USO and American Legion can also often coordinate tributes. Taps for Veterans is a volunteer group that provides a fitting musical farewell to Veterans. Your local funeral director may have contacts in your community for other charitable groups that can help. There may also be additional faith-based assistance in your area.

What About Crowdfunding?

Some families opt to raise money using a crowdfunding platform. Be sure to research them and consider your options before starting your campaign. Often, a family member or friend can help coordinate this for you.

Life Insurance and Social Security

When a Veteran passes away, families may be able to draw on life insurance policies or Social Security benefits to help cover funeral costs. These resources can be especially important since the VA does not pay for the funeral service itself.

VA Life Insurance Policies

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers several life insurance options that can provide funds to cover final expenses:

• Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI): For Veterans with service-connected disabilities, this policy provides affordable coverage that can be used to pay funeral and burial expenses.
• Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI): This policy allows Veterans to continue their Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage after leaving the military. The payout can be directed toward funeral costs, memorial services, or any other expenses the family chooses.

Both S-DVI and VGLI benefits are paid directly to the policy’s beneficiary, who can then use the funds to cover the funeral home, casket or urn, memorial service, and any remaining expenses not covered by VA benefits.

Private Life Insurance

Many Veterans also carry private life insurance policies. These payouts are flexible and can be applied to funeral costs, debts, or living expenses for surviving family members. If your loved one had a private policy, contact the insurer promptly to start the claims process.

Frequently Asked Questions about Veteran Death Benefits

Does the VA pay for cremation?

The VA covers the placement of cremated remains (such as a columbarium niche) and the marker, but not the cremation itself. Families pay for the cremation process.

Does the VA provide a casket or urn?

No. Families need to purchase a casket or urn, or arrange through a prepaid plan.

Does the VA pay for the funeral service?

No. The VA covers the burial or placement, the headstone or marker, and related costs. Families are responsible for the service, casket/urn, and personal touches like flowers or music.

Are spouses and children covered, too?

Yes, many VA and state Veterans cemeteries allow spouses and dependent children to be buried alongside the Veteran, often at little or no cost.

Taking the Next Step

By understanding what the VA covers and what families are responsible for, you can make informed choices that honor your loved one without unnecessary financial stress. Your chosen funeral home, especially those with certified Veterans Funeral Specialists, can help you navigate the complex process of applying for benefits. In addition to the financial help, they can arrange for you to receive a flag and other markers, and medallions. They’ll also have contacts in the community to make sure your Veteran receives the send-off they deserve.