FAMILYVA program

Veterans Burial and Plot Allowance

Burial allowances help cover some burial, funeral, and plot costs when a veteran's death meets VA's conditions, such as death from a service-connected disability, death while getting VA care, or death while receiving VA pension or compensation. VA automatically pays a set amount to an eligible surviving spouse who is listed as the spouse on the veteran's VA profile. When a claim is filed, VA pays the first living person to file from this list, in order: surviving spouse, surviving partner from a legal union, children of any age, parents, then the executor or administrator of the estate. For a death that was not service connected on or after October 1, 2026, VA pays a $1,032 burial allowance and $1,032 for a plot.

Available based on circumstances of death and veteran's VA benefit status at time of death

View on VA.gov

Example value

Up to $2,000Service-connected death on or after Sept. 11, 2001

Step-by-step guide

What VA looks for: Death from a service-connected disability

Death from a service-connected disabilityThe death resulted from one or more service-connected disabilities. VA presumes this when the veteran was rated totally disabled for service-connected conditions at death, not counting a total rating based on unemployability.
A person in the order VA paysVA pays the first living person to file from this order: surviving spouse, survivor of a legal union, children of any age, parents, then the executor or administrator of the estate. The person filing states that they paid burial costs.

Source: 38 CFR 3.1704(b) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.1702(b)(1) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.1703(b) (opens in new tab)

Which kind of claim is this?

Death from a service-connected disability
VA pays a set burial allowance when the veteran died from a disability VA connects to service. VA can also pay for transportation. This allowance takes the place of the private plot allowance; only a State or Tribal veterans cemetery that buried the veteran at no charge can get a plot allowance on top of it.
Source: 38 CFR 3.1704(b) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.1704(c) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.1702(b)(1) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits (opens in new tab)
Death that was not service connected
VA pays a burial allowance and a plot allowance when, on the date of death, the veteran was getting VA pension or compensation, would have been but for military retired pay, or had a claim pending that VA would have granted.
1. VA pension or compensation at the date of deathThe veteran was receiving VA pension or disability compensation, would have been receiving compensation except for military retired pay, or had an original or reopened claim pending that the evidence would have granted before death.
2. A discharge that was not dishonorableVA.gov lists a discharge other than dishonorable for burial allowances. If a dishonorable discharge was corrected after death, a claim can follow within 2 years after the correction.
3. A claim filed within 2 years after burialThe claim for this allowance must reach VA no later than 2 years after the burial. The plot and transportation parts have no time limit.
Source: 38 CFR 3.1705(b) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.1703(a) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits (opens in new tab)
Death while in VA care
VA pays a burial allowance when a veteran whose death was not service connected died while hospitalized by VA. This includes VA hospital, nursing home, or domiciliary care, care VA paid for at another facility, and authorized travel for VA care.
1. Hospitalized by VA at the time of deathThe veteran was admitted to a VA facility, placed by VA in a non-VA hospital, a contract nursing home, or a State home VA pays for, or was traveling for VA care with authorization and at VA expense. Short absences from the facility can still count.
2. A person who paid the burial costsThe person filing states that they paid burial, plot, or transportation costs. VA pays one person and does not split the payment.
Source: 38 CFR 3.1706(b) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.1703(b) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.1702(b)(3) (opens in new tab)
Plot or interment allowance
For a veteran buried outside a national cemetery, VA can pay toward the plot or interment costs. The plot means the final resting place: a grave, a mausoleum vault, or a columbarium niche.
1. Burial outside a national cemeteryThe veteran could have been buried in a national cemetery but was buried somewhere else, such as a private cemetery.
2. A basis VA recognizes for the plot allowanceThe veteran meets the rules for the allowance for a death not service connected or a death in VA care, was discharged for a disability incurred or made worse in the line of duty, or had a disability at discharge that service records show would have justified a disability discharge.
Source: 38 CFR 3.1707(a) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.1707(c) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits (opens in new tab)
Transportation of the remains
VA can pay reasonable costs to move the remains to the place of burial, or to a national cemetery or a covered State or Tribal veterans cemetery. When VA pays only for the move to a national or covered veterans cemetery, it pays up to the cost of moving the remains to the national cemetery with space closest to the veteran's last home.
1. A death VA covers for transportationA death in VA care, or one that met the rules for the allowance for a death not service connected, is covered for the move to the place of burial. A service-connected death that does not meet those rules, or a death outside the United States, is covered for the move to a national cemetery or a covered State or Tribal veterans cemetery.
2. A record of the transportation costsVA needs a document, preferably on letterhead, that shows who paid, the name of the veteran, the specific transportation costs, and the dates of service.
Source: 38 CFR 3.1709 (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.1703(b) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits (opens in new tab)

Time limits

A claim for the burial allowance for a death that was not service connected must reach VA within 2 years after the burial. VA lists no time limit for a service-connected death, a death in VA care, or a plot or transportation claim. If VA corrected a dishonorable discharge after the death, the claim is due within 2 years after the correction.

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?
Application for Burial Benefits (VA Form 21P-530EZ) The burial claim form. It asks who is filing, how they relate to the veteran, and which costs they paid.	Which allowances are being claimed and that the person filing paid the costs	Apply online on VA.gov or mail the form to the VA Pension Intake Center.
Death certificate with the cause of death The public record of death from the State or community where the death happened, or a VA or military record of death.	The date and the cause of death	Order copies from the vital records office or the funeral home, then send a copy to VA with the claim.	Yes
DD214 or other separation documents The discharge papers for every period of service.	The service and the character of discharge, and any discharge for disability	Send a copy with the claim. If you do not have it, request it through VA.gov military records.	Yes
VA award or rating letter A letter from VA showing the veteran's compensation or pension award, or the rating for service-connected conditions.	That the veteran was getting VA pension or compensation, or was rated totally disabled	VA can rely on the service and disability evidence it used during the veteran's life. Send a copy if you have one.	Yes
The veteran's medical records Treatment records from the time before the death, from VA or a private provider.	The veteran's health at the time of death, for a service-connected death	Optional. For care at a VA or federal facility, tell VA where on VA Form 21-4138 so VA can request the records. For private care, sign VA Form 21-4142 and 21-4142a, or authorize the release online after you apply. Records go to VA, not to BeneVets.
Itemized transportation receipt A bill or receipt, preferably on letterhead, for moving the remains. VA.gov asks for one in your name.	Who paid, the transportation costs, and the dates of service	Get it from the funeral home or carrier and send a copy to VA with the claim.	Yes
Marriage or legal union record A marriage certificate, or the State document that made a legal union formal.	Your place in the order VA pays	Use your own copy or order one from the State office that issued it, and send a copy to VA if VA asks.	Yes

Records and statements go to VA. BeneVets never asks you to upload or type them here.

Steps, in order

Surviving spouse: check for an automatic payment
If you are listed as the spouse on the veteran's VA profile, VA pays a set amount without a claim once it learns of the death.
Source: 38 CFR 3.1702(a) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits (opens in new tab)
Find the reason VA would pay
Match the death to a track: service connected, in VA care, or not service connected while the veteran had VA pension or compensation. Plot and transportation are added on top.
Source: 38 CFR 3.1700(a) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.1704(b) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.1705(b) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.1706(b) (opens in new tab)
Confirm who files
VA pays the first living person to file in this order: surviving spouse, legal union partner, children, parents, then the estate. A funeral home or friend who paid can also file.
Source: 38 CFR 3.1702(b)(1) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits (opens in new tab)
Get the death certificate
Get a copy that shows the cause of death.
Source: 38 CFR 3.211 (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits (opens in new tab)
Find the discharge papers
VA.gov recommends sending the DD214 or other separation documents for all periods of service. Request them if they are missing.
Source: VA.gov: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits (opens in new tab); VA.gov: request your military service records (opens in new tab)
Keep the transportation receipt
Ask the funeral home or carrier for an itemized receipt that shows who paid, the veteran's name, the costs, and the dates.
Source: 38 CFR 3.1703(b) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.1709 (opens in new tab)
Point VA to medical records
For a service-connected death, you can send the veteran's medical records. If you do not have them, name the VA or federal facility on VA Form 21-4138, or sign VA Form 21-4142 and 21-4142a for private care, so VA can request them.
Source: VA.gov: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits (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)
File VA Form 21P-530EZ
Apply online on VA.gov, or mail the form and copies of your documents to the VA Pension Intake Center, PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365.
Source: VA Form 21P-530EZ (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.1703(b) (opens in new tab)
Surviving spouse: claim what the automatic payment leaves out
The automatic payment does not cover everything. File VA Form 21P-530EZ to ask for the plot or interment allowance, transportation, or the service-connected allowance.
Source: 38 CFR 3.1702(a) (opens in new tab); VA Form 21P-530EZ (opens in new tab)

Good to know

A surviving spouse can be paid without a claim

When VA learns of the death and the spouse is listed on the veteran's VA profile, VA pays a set amount to the surviving spouse automatically. A claim on VA Form 21P-530EZ can still ask for the plot, transportation, or service-connected allowance.

Source: 38 CFR 3.1702(a) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits (opens in new tab)

VA pays one person

VA pays the first living person to file in its order of payees and does not divide the payment among family members. The person paid handles any sharing.

Source: 38 CFR 3.1702(b)(1) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.1702(b)(3) (opens in new tab)

Every legal burial type counts

Burial includes cremation, burial at sea, and donating the remains to a medical school.

Source: 38 CFR 3.1700(b)(1) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits (opens in new tab)

When VA does not pay these allowances

VA.gov says burial allowances are not paid for a death on active duty, while serving as a member of Congress, or while serving a federal prison sentence.

Source: VA.gov: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits (opens in new tab)

Amounts depend on the date of death

VA sets the allowance by the type of death and the date of death. The amounts below are the newest VA prints; older deaths use the table on the VA.gov burial allowance page.

Source: VA.gov: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.1700(a) (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