FAMILYVA program

National Cemetery Burial Benefits

Veterans and certain family members who meet VA rules can be buried in a VA national cemetery at no cost to the family, including the grave, a government burial liner, a government marker, and perpetual care. If the family buys a private vault instead of the liner, VA may pay an allowance toward it.

Available to veterans with qualifying honorable service and eligible spouses/dependents

View on VA.gov

Step-by-step guide

Who may be buried: veterans and service members

Service VA countsThe person is a veteran, died in active service, or is a Guard or Reserve member who died in training or was due retired pay. VA.gov lists every group on its national cemetery page.
A discharge other than dishonorableThe discharge was under conditions other than dishonorable. A VA regional office decides cases with other discharge types or several discharges.

Source: 38 CFR 38.620 (opens in new tab); VA.gov: burial in a VA national cemetery (opens in new tab); National Cemetery Administration: burial and memorial benefits (opens in new tab)

Which of these fits your situation?

Burial of a veteran or service member
A veteran, or a service member who died on active duty, may be buried in a VA national cemetery. National Guard and Reserve members may also be covered in some cases.
Source: 38 CFR 38.620 (opens in new tab); VA.gov: burial in a VA national cemetery (opens in new tab)
Burial of a spouse or dependent child
The spouse, surviving spouse, minor child, and some unmarried adult children of a veteran may be buried in a national cemetery, usually in the same gravesite as the veteran.
1. A spouse or child as the rule defines itA spouse or surviving spouse, even after remarriage. A minor child is unmarried and under 21, or under 23 in full-time school. An unmarried adult child became permanently disabled and unable to self-support before 21, or 23 in school. A former spouse after divorce is not included.
2. A veteran whose service countsThe family member is linked to a veteran or service member who may be buried in a national cemetery. Spouses and children may be buried even if they die before the veteran.
Source: 38 CFR 38.620(e) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: burial in a VA national cemetery (opens in new tab); National Cemetery Administration: burial and memorial benefits (opens in new tab)
What VA provides at no cost
Burial in a national cemetery comes with the gravesite and its care, a government marker, and, for veterans, a burial flag. The funeral home and cremation costs stay with the family.
1. Gravesite, opening and closing, liner, and careA gravesite in any national cemetery with space, opening and closing of the grave, a government burial liner, and perpetual care of the gravesite.
2. A government headstone or markerVA furnishes a headstone or marker for the grave. A spouse or dependent buried with the veteran has their name and dates added to the veteran's headstone.
3. Flag, certificate, and funeral honors for veteransVeterans, service members, and Reservists also get a burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Military funeral honors are given when the family asks for them.
Source: VA.gov: what burial in a VA national cemetery includes (opens in new tab); National Cemetery Administration: burial and memorial benefits (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 38.630(a)(1)(i) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 38.619(f) (opens in new tab)
Scheduling the burial at the time of need
The family or the funeral director requests the burial through the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117 (TTY: 711). A gravesite cannot be reserved in advance.
1. A person making the arrangementsThe personal representative is the family member or other person who tells VA they are making the burial decisions. A funeral director can call for them.
2. Records that show the service and the family tieVA asks for the discharge papers of the veteran whose service is used, plus details about the person who died and the next of kin. VA helps find records the family cannot locate.
Source: 38 CFR 38.619(a) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: schedule a burial (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 38.600 (opens in new tab)

What to gather, and what it shows VA

Documents for this benefit: what each is, what it shows VA, and how VA gets it
Document	What it shows	How VA gets it	Have it?
DD214 or other discharge documents The discharge papers of the veteran or service member whose service is used for the burial.	The service and a discharge other than dishonorable	Fax them to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 866-900-6417, or email them to NCA.Scheduling@va.gov. If they are missing, request them through VA.gov or ask the office for help when you call.	Yes
Death certificate The public record of the death.	Who died and when	The funeral home usually has copies. Send one to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office if VA asks for it.	Yes
Marriage, birth, or divorce records Records of the family tie, such as a marriage certificate, a birth certificate, or a divorce decree.	The tie between the person who died and the veteran	Use your own copies and send them to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office if VA asks.	Yes
Doctor's letter for an adult child A letter from a doctor about an unmarried adult child's disability that began before age 21, or 23 in school.	That the adult child could not support themselves because of a disability that began in childhood	The doctor writes it. It goes to VA's National Cemetery Scheduling Office, not to BeneVets.
Pre-need decision letter A letter from VA, sent before the death, that confirms burial in a national cemetery.	That VA already reviewed the service and the family tie	VA mailed it to the person who applied ahead. Have it ready when you call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office.	Yes
Burial details The choices the family tells VA when scheduling: the cemetery, casket or urn and its size, the type of marker, any emblem of belief or inscription, and honors or memorial items.	What the family wants VA to provide	Tell the National Cemetery Scheduling Office when you call. A funeral director can give these details for you.

Discharge papers and family records go to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office. BeneVets does not ask for copies of them.

Steps, in order

Look for a pre-need decision letter
If the person applied ahead and got a decision letter, the family or funeral director only needs to call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office with it.
Source: VA.gov: schedule a burial (opens in new tab); VA.gov: after you apply for a pre-need determination (opens in new tab)
Choose a funeral director
A funeral director can make the calls and send the papers for you. Funeral home services are at the family's expense.
Source: VA.gov: schedule a burial (opens in new tab); National Cemetery Administration: burial and memorial benefits (opens in new tab)
Gather the discharge papers
Find the DD214 or other discharge documents of the veteran whose service is used. Request them if they are missing, or ask the scheduling office for help.
Source: VA.gov: schedule a burial (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 38.619(a) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: request your military service records (opens in new tab)
Gather family records
For a spouse or child, have the records that show the tie to the veteran. If the veteran's spouse is already buried in a national cemetery, note the cemetery section and site number.
Source: VA.gov: schedule a burial (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 38.620(e) (opens in new tab)
Write down the details VA asks for
Have the name, Social Security or service number, date of birth, date of death, marital status, and relationship to the veteran, plus the next of kin's name and contact information.
Source: VA.gov: schedule a burial (opens in new tab)
Decide the burial details
Pick a preferred national cemetery, a casket or urn and its size, the marker type, and any emblem of belief or inscription.
Source: VA.gov: schedule a burial (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 38.619(a) (opens in new tab)
Decide on honors and memorial items
For a veteran or Reservist, decide on military funeral honors, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. VA gives the family a list of honors providers.
Source: 38 CFR 38.619(f) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: schedule a burial (opens in new tab)
Send the discharge papers
Fax them to 866-900-6417, or email NCA.Scheduling@va.gov with the name of the person who died in the subject line.
Source: VA.gov: schedule a burial (opens in new tab)
Get free help
Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at Find an accredited VSO near you.
Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab)
Call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office
Call 800-535-1117 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET, to request the burial. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.
Source: 38 CFR 38.619(a) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: schedule a burial (opens in new tab)
Contact the cemetery for changes
To cancel or reschedule, change details already given, or ask about a cemetery's own rules, contact the national cemetery directly. Burial of a service member who died on active duty is also scheduled with the cemetery directly.
Source: VA.gov: schedule a burial (opens in new tab)
Ask about the burial allowance
VA may also pay toward funeral costs and the cost of moving the remains to a national cemetery. That is a separate claim on VA Form 21P-530EZ.
Source: VA.gov: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.1709 (opens in new tab)

Good to know

No cost to the family for the cemetery

The gravesite, opening and closing, liner, marker, and perpetual care cost the family nothing. Anything bought from a funeral home or cremation office is at the family's expense.

Source: National Cemetery Administration: burial and memorial benefits (opens in new tab); VA.gov: what burial in a VA national cemetery includes (opens in new tab)

Cremated remains get the same honors

Cremated remains are buried or placed in a columbarium in national cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as a casket burial.

Source: National Cemetery Administration: burial and memorial benefits (opens in new tab)

No gravesite reservations

A gravesite or a specific cemetery cannot be reserved ahead. A pre-need decision letter confirms the burial benefit, not a place.

Source: VA.gov: schedule a burial (opens in new tab)

A privately bought vault

If the family buys its own vault instead of the government liner for a casket burial in a national cemetery, VA pays an allowance to the person who paid. No application is needed.

Source: 38 CFR 38.629(d)(1) (opens in new tab)

Some convictions bar burial

A final conviction for a federal or State capital crime, or for a Tier III sex offense with a life sentence, bars burial in a national cemetery. The same bar can apply when clear and convincing evidence shows the crime but death or flight prevented a trial.

Source: 38 CFR 38.617(a) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: burial in a VA national cemetery (opens in new tab)

Arlington is separate

Arlington National Cemetery and the United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery are not scheduled through VA. Contact Arlington directly.

Source: VA.gov: pre-need burial determination (opens in new tab)

BeneVets is informational and is not an accredited representative. Free help: an accredited VSO can work through VA benefits with you at no cost. Find an accredited VSO near you