VA Funeral Expense Reimbursement: Burial Allowance, Plot Allowance, and How to Apply

You paid for the funeral. The casket, the transport, the plot, the opening and closing fees — the bills came due before you had time to think about anything but getting through the service. Now you're wondering whether the VA will cover any of it.

The short answer: yes, the VA reimburses a portion of funeral and burial costs for eligible veterans. The amounts won't cover everything, but they're money you're owed, and the application is straightforward once you know which category applies.

What the VA Pays in 2026

The reimbursement depends on how the veteran died and where they're buried.

Service-connected death: Up to $2,000 toward burial and funeral expenses. If the veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, the VA may also reimburse some or all transportation costs to bring the remains to the cemetery. There is no filing deadline for service-connected burial claims.

Non-service-connected death: A flat $1,002 burial allowance plus a separate $1,002 plot-interment allowance if the veteran is buried in a private cemetery. The veteran must have been receiving VA pension or disability compensation at the time of death, or have been discharged for a disability that the VA later determined was compensable. You must file within two years of the veteran's permanent burial or cremation.

VA-hospitalized death: If the veteran died while hospitalized at a VA facility or a VA-contracted care facility, the burial allowance is $1,002 plus the $1,002 plot allowance for private cemetery burial. Transportation costs to the national cemetery may also be covered.

National cemetery burial: Burial in a VA national cemetery is at no cost to the family — the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate are all provided. The family typically still pays for the funeral home's professional services, the casket or urn, and transportation to the cemetery.

Who Qualifies

The veteran must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. For the non-service-connected burial allowance, one of these must also be true:

• The veteran was receiving VA compensation or pension at the time of death
• The veteran had a pending claim that would have resulted in compensation
• The veteran died in a VA facility or a facility under VA contract
• The veteran was eligible for VA pension but was receiving military retired pay instead

The person who paid the burial expenses files the claim — this doesn't have to be the surviving spouse. It can be a child, a sibling, a friend, or even the funeral home.

How to Apply

File VA Form 21P-530EZ (Application for Burial Benefits). You can submit online through VA.gov, by mail to the VA Pension Intake Center, or through a Veterans Service Organization representative.

You'll need: the veteran's DD Form 214, a certified death certificate, an itemized statement of funeral and burial costs, and proof of payment (receipts, cancelled checks, or a funeral home statement showing the balance was paid). If claiming the plot allowance, include proof of the plot purchase or interment fees.

How Long Reimbursement Takes

The VA processes burial claims in the order they're received. Most straightforward claims are reimbursed within 4 to 12 weeks. Service-connected death claims may take longer if the cause-of-death connection needs to be established.

Payment arrives as a one-time lump sum, either by direct deposit or paper check. If you filed through a funeral home, the payment goes to whoever the claim lists as having incurred the expense.

The Two-Year Deadline Trap

For non-service-connected deaths, the two-year clock starts from the date of permanent burial — not the date of death. For cremated remains, use the date they are permanently interred. If the veteran was temporarily interred and later moved to a permanent site, the clock starts from the permanent interment. File as soon as you have your receipts together.

Service-connected burial claims have no deadline, but filing sooner means getting paid sooner, and it's easier to locate receipts and documentation while the information is fresh.

Private Cemetery vs. National Cemetery

If your veteran is buried in a private cemetery, you're eligible for both the burial allowance and the plot-interment allowance. If they're in a national cemetery, you don't need the plot allowance because the plot is free, but you can still claim the burial allowance for funeral home and transportation costs.

The Veteran's Death Benefits & Survivor Claims toolkit includes a burial benefits tracker that itemizes your costs alongside the VA reimbursement categories, so nothing falls through the cracks when you file Form 21P-530EZ.