Burial Assistance Programs in Texas: What's Available and How to Apply

Funeral costs in Texas typically run between $8,000 and $12,000 for a full burial and considerably less for direct cremation. When a family is already dealing with lost income, that expense can feel impossible.

Texas has several programs that help cover funeral and burial costs — each with different eligibility rules, dollar limits, and application processes. None of them are automatic; all require you to apply. Here's what's available and how to access it.

1. Texas Crime Victims' Compensation: Up to $6,500

If the death resulted from a violent crime — homicide, assault, intoxicated manslaughter, or similar offense — the Texas Crime Victims' Compensation (CVC) program, administered by the Office of the Attorney General, covers funeral and burial expenses up to $6,500 for crimes occurring after July 2016.

What's included:

• Professional funeral services (embalming, viewing, ceremony)
• Burial or cremation costs
• Cemetery fees
• Transportation of the body (if transported more than 50 miles one way, those transportation costs are covered separately, outside the $6,500 cap)

Who can apply: The person who actually paid the funeral expenses — surviving spouse, family member, or even a friend.

Deadline: Three years from the date of the crime. Limited extensions exist for children and documented good cause.

How to apply: Through the OAG CVC Portal at texasattorneygeneral.gov. You'll need a Funeral Purchase Agreement (detailed itemized invoice from the funeral home), a verified police report, and documentation of cooperation with law enforcement.

The CVC program is a payer of last resort — other coverage (life insurance, workers' comp) pays first.

2. Texas Workers' Compensation Burial Benefit: Up to $10,000

If the death was caused by a work-related injury or illness, the Texas workers' compensation system reimburses funeral expenses up to $10,000 for injuries occurring on or after September 1, 2015.

This is the highest dollar limit among Texas burial assistance programs and covers standard funeral costs without the crime-related eligibility requirement.

Who can apply: The person who paid the funeral expenses — typically the surviving spouse or family members.

Deadline: Workers' comp death benefit claims (Form DWC-042) must be filed within one year of the death. Burial benefit claims follow a similar timeline; contact the workers' compensation insurance carrier immediately.

How to apply: Submit funeral expense receipts directly to the workers' compensation insurance carrier of the employer. The carrier pays the burial benefit separately from the ongoing income replacement death benefit.

The burial benefit is paid to whoever actually incurred the funeral costs, not necessarily the same person who receives the ongoing income replacement benefit.

3. VA Burial Allowance: $300 to $796 (Plus Cemetery Benefits)

If the deceased was a qualifying veteran, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides a burial allowance:

• For service-connected death: Up to $796 toward funeral and burial expenses
• For non-service-connected death for a veteran receiving VA pension or compensation: Up to $300 toward burial expenses, plus a cemetery plot or interment allowance if not buried in a national cemetery
• For deaths in a VA facility: Up to $796

Separately, veterans are eligible for burial in a national cemetery at no cost, along with a headstone or grave marker provided by the VA. Texas also has state veterans cemeteries (in Killeen, Kerrville, and Mission) that provide burial at no cost to eligible veterans and, in many cases, their spouses and dependents.

How to apply: File VA Form 21P-530 (Application for Burial Benefits) with the VA. You generally have two years from the date of permanent burial or cremation to file.

4. County Indigent Burial Programs

Texas counties are authorized to provide burial assistance for residents who die without funds or family able to cover funeral costs. The details vary significantly by county:

• Eligibility: Typically requires proof of financial need and often requires that no other responsible party (family, estate) can cover costs
• Amount: Varies widely — some counties cover only basic direct burial or cremation; others pay a set fee to local funeral homes
• Who to contact: Call the county health department, county human services department, or the county judge's office and ask specifically about indigent burial assistance

Many families don't know their county has this program. If the estate genuinely has no funds and no other assistance program applies, county indigent burial is worth exploring.

5. Medicaid Funeral Assistance (FEMA Disaster Deaths)

In the specific case of COVID-19 deaths (through programs that ran in 2021-2022) or deaths in declared federal disasters, FEMA provided funeral assistance through a temporary program. As of 2026, these programs are closed for general applications. Monitor FEMA's website for any new disaster-specific burial assistance that may be declared in the future.

6. Life Insurance as Pre-Funding for Funeral Costs

If the deceased had a life insurance policy, the death benefit is generally paid to the named beneficiary — not directly to the funeral home. However, many funeral homes will work with families on a "funeral advance" arrangement where the funeral costs are paid from anticipated life insurance proceeds. Ask the funeral home specifically about assignment of benefits from life insurance.

If a prepaid funeral contract was in place, it should cover the costs directly according to the contract terms.

When Multiple Programs Apply

These programs are not mutually exclusive. If the death resulted from a workplace crime — for example, a robbery at a business where the employee was killed — both the workers' compensation burial benefit and the CVC program may apply, with workers' comp paying first and CVC covering the gap.

If the deceased was a veteran who died from a work-related injury, VA burial benefits, workers' comp burial reimbursement, and VA cemetery placement may all be available simultaneously.

Apply to every program for which you qualify. Program administrators will coordinate as needed; it's not your job to guess which one takes priority.

The Broader Financial Picture

Funeral and burial costs are an immediate, front-end expense. The ongoing financial stability of a surviving family in Texas also depends on claiming TRS or ERS pension death benefits, workers' comp income replacement, Social Security survivor benefits, property tax exemptions, and health insurance continuation.

The Texas Survivor Benefits Navigator organizes all of it into one place — with deadlines, forms, and agency contacts. If you're navigating a Texas death right now, that's where to get the complete picture.

See more Texas guides →