Planning ahead: VA burial and memorial benefits

Why now

On Oct 27, 2026 VA announced a record $106.5 million in fiscal year 2026 Veterans Cemetery Grant Program awards to 21 cemeteries in states, territories and tribal nations, the most in one year since the program began in 1980. New cemeteries being established include ones in Huntsville, Ala.; Augusta, Ga.; Carlsbad, N.M.; Washington Terrace (Northern Utah); Upper Cumberland, Tenn.; Rota and Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands; and the Burgess-Oocumma Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Cherokee, N.C. VA says these grants help more than 94% of Veterans in the U.S. live within 75 miles of a Veterans cemetery.

Find out now if you qualify (pre-need)

You can ask VA ahead of time whether you can be buried in a VA national cemetery. This is a pre-need determination of eligibility. It saves your family a step later.

• Apply online, or mail or fax VA Form 40-10007. Mail: NCA Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 5237, Janesville, WI 53547.
• Attach your DD214 if you have it. It speeds things up.
• Name a preferred national cemetery. VA can't guarantee it, but will help your family pick another if needed.
• Family can apply for you if you can't, with proof they're allowed (court-appointed, caregiver, power of attorney) plus VA Form 21-22 or 21-22a.

National vs. state, territory or tribal cemeteries

VA runs the national cemeteries. States, territories and tribal nations run the grant-funded Veterans cemeteries. Pre-need through VA covers national cemeteries only. For a state, territory or tribal Veterans cemetery, contact that cemetery about its own pre-need program. Arlington is run separately; contact Arlington National Cemetery directly. Find a cemetery.

Spouses and dependents

Per VA.gov eligibility, burial in a national cemetery can include a spouse or surviving spouse (even if they remarried after the Veteran died), a minor child, and in some cases an unmarried adult dependent child. A former spouse whose marriage ended by divorce or annulment isn't eligible through the Veteran. Veterans with a dishonorable discharge aren't eligible; other-than-honorable cases are decided by a VA regional office.

Headstones, markers, medallions, flags and certificates

VA's memorial items include:

• Headstone or marker for the grave.
• Medallion to attach to a privately purchased headstone in a private cemetery.
• Burial flag to drape a casket or place with an urn.
• Urn or plaque when cremated remains won't go in a VA or VA grant-funded cemetery.
• Presidential Memorial Certificate, signed by the current president.

Burial allowance

The burial allowance helps with burial, funeral, plot and transport costs. It's higher when the death was service-connected. VA.gov lists a maximum of $2,000 for a service-connected death on or after Sept 11, 2001. For a non-service-connected death on or after Oct 1, 2026, VA.gov lists up to $1,032 for burial and $1,032 for a plot (if VA rules are met, such as the Veteran getting VA pension or compensation, or dying in VA care).

• Apply online or with VA Form 21P-530EZ.
• Service-connected death: no time limit. Non-service-connected: usually within 2 years of burial (some exceptions).
• A surviving spouse listed on the Veteran's VA profile may get a set amount automatically.

What to keep on file

• DD214 or other separation papers for every period of service. Request copies now if you can't find them.
• Your pre-need decision letter, if you get one.
• Marriage certificate and children's birth certificates.
• VA rating decision or award letter (shows service-connected conditions).
• Tell your family where these are and which cemetery you want.

When the time comes, use the survivor checklist for the step-by-step.

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