Information for Veterans
If you are a Veteran or family member interested in learning more about VA Burial and Memorial benefits, use this reference to help guide the journey, either while planning in advance or at the time of need. Applying for a Pre-need Burial Eligibility assessment can help ease the burial planning process for you and your loved ones.
Across the country, Veterans from every era and every conflict rest in dignity, honor, and respect in VA national cemeteries. Memorial services at VA national cemeteries are provided at no charge to eligible Veterans and their families. These benefits can provide peace of mind and reduce the financial burden of burial costs to families.
To our Veterans and their families from a grateful nation... caring for you and your loved ones is our sacred trust to you.
VA benefits include:
- Plot or columbarium (for cremated remains)
- Grave liner
- Opening and closing of the grave
- Headstone or marker
- Burial flag
- Presidential Memorial Certificate(s)
- Perpetual (ongoing) care of the gravesite
Watch: VA Benefits and Pre-Need Burial Eligibility
Plan Now, Honor Forever
Burial and Memorial Benefits
Review the list of VA burial and memorial benefits.
Eligibility
Check eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery and for other memorial items.
VA National Cemeteries
Choose the VA national cemetery where you'd prefer to be buried.
Pre-need Burial Eligibility
Apply now to find out in advance if you can be buried in a VA national cemetery.
We'll let you know when we've received your application and how long we think it will take to make a decision. Please wait to hear back about your application rather than applying again. We'll contact you if we need more information.
If you have questions about your application or for more information, you can call us at 800-535-1117 (TTY: 711).
We're here Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET.
Learn more about what happens after applying for pre-need burial eligibility »
Call our toll-free hotline at 800-535-1117 (TTY: 711) if you have questions about future burial needs for yourself or a living dependent of a Veteran, or you need assistance with the submission of a pre-need application.
We're here Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET.
Note: If you do not have discharge documents or other military paperwork, we will help obtain the information needed to determine eligibility for interment in a VA national cemetery.
Burial planning at the time of need
If you have a pre-need decision letter that confirms eligibility
Call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117 (TTY: 711) to request a burial Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET.
Note: The pre-need decision letter doesn't identify a specific cemetery or gravesite, since it's not possible to reserve these in advance. In some cases, we may review your eligibility again at your time of death, as laws and circumstances may have changed since your pre-need application.
If you don't have a pre-need decision letter
To start, you may want to choose a funeral director to help you plan the burial. Then either you or the funeral director will need to take these 3 steps to schedule the burial.
Information and Documents
Gather the information and documents you'll need to identify the deceased when you call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office.
Burial Details
Decide on the burial details and gather all related information.
Contact NCA
Contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office to schedule a burial for a Veteran or family member.
1. Can families get help paying for burial costs?
Spouses of record (the legally recognized spouse) or a designated (legally chosen) family member of a Veteran may be able to get financial help for burial and funeral costs.
Learn more about Veterans burial allowance »
2. How do families get military funeral honors?
The NCA Scheduling Office or national cemetery can provide contact information for honors. Scheduling of honors is the responsibility of the funeral home and families.
Learn more about military funeral honors »
3. What about burial in Arlington National Cemetery?
VA does not determine eligibility for burial in Arlington National Cemetery since the United States Army maintains this cemetery.
