Veterans burial benefits from the VA cover a free gravesite in a national cemetery, a government headstone or marker, and — for a non-service-connected death — a $1,002 burial allowance plus a $1,002 plot allowance. These help, but they rarely cover a full funeral, leaving a gap most families fill with a small burial insurance policy.
What burial benefits does the VA provide to veterans?
Most veterans who did not receive a dishonorable discharge qualify for a set of burial benefits, and most of them center on burial in one of the VA national cemeteries. The family applies at the time of need, and the funeral home usually helps with the paperwork.
Here is what the VA typically provides at no cost:
- A gravesite in a VA national cemetery
- Opening and closing of the grave
- Perpetual care of the gravesite
- A government headstone, marker, or medallion
- A United States burial flag
- A Presidential Memorial Certificate
Notice that these benefits pay for the burial itself — not the funeral service, casket, or viewing. That is why many veteran families pair them with a small whole life policy. If you want to see how the two fit together, you can compare final expense insurance options built for ages 50–85.
How much does the VA pay for a non-service-connected death?
A non-service-connected death means the veteran died of causes not tied to their military service. In that case, the VA pays two separate allowances. Effective October 1, 2025, the VA pays up to a $1,002 burial allowance plus up to a $1,002 plot or interment allowance, based on the figures published on the VA burial allowance page.
| VA benefit (non-service-connected death) | What it provides |
|---|---|
| Burial allowance | Up to $1,002 |
| Plot or interment allowance | Up to $1,002 |
| National cemetery gravesite | Provided at no cost |
| Headstone, marker, or medallion | Provided at no cost |
| Burial flag | Provided at no cost |
A death that is service-connected qualifies for a larger allowance. The exact amount changes over time, so confirm the current figure on the VA page above rather than relying on an old number.
What costs do veterans burial benefits leave behind?
Quite a few. The VA cash allowances for a non-service-connected death add up to about $2,004, but a funeral usually costs far more. The national median funeral runs $8,300 with a viewing and burial and $6,280 with cremation, according to the NFDA 2023 price study. You can dig deeper into what drives that number in our guide to funeral costs.
The gap grows if the veteran is buried in a private cemetery instead of a national one. Then the family pays out of pocket for items the VA would have covered for free:
- Funeral home service and staff fees
- A casket or cremation container
- Viewing or visitation
- A private cemetery plot
- A private headstone or marker
- Transportation, flowers, and the obituary
Social Security adds only a one-time $255 lump-sum death payment to an eligible surviving spouse, per the SSA lump-sum payment page. Between the VA allowances and that $255, most families still face several thousand dollars in unfunded costs.
How does final expense insurance fill the veterans’ burial gap?
Final expense insurance — also called burial insurance or funeral insurance — is one product: a small whole life policy, usually $2,000–$50,000 in face amount, for ages 50–85. It covers the final costs the VA leaves behind, and it pays out a tax-free death benefit directly to the person you name, who can spend it on anything — the funeral, a private plot, unpaid bills, or travel for family.
A few features make it a good fit for veterans:
- The monthly premium locks in at signup and never rises as you age.
- The policy builds a small amount of cash value over time.
- The death benefit pays out in days, not months — money the family can use right away.
If health is a concern, a guaranteed-issue policy skips the health questions entirely. In exchange, it carries a two-year graded death benefit — meaning the full payout begins after the policy has been in force for two years.
Can a surviving spouse or family claim other benefits too?
Often, yes. A veteran’s spouse and dependent children may be eligible for burial in the same national cemetery, usually at no cost for the gravesite. The family should also file for the Social Security $255 lump-sum death payment if a qualifying spouse or child survives.
The key is not to assume the VA covers everything. It covers the burial ground and a modest cash allowance — the rest is on the family unless a policy is already in place.
Veterans burial benefits are a real head start, but they were never meant to pay for a whole funeral. A small policy closes the distance so your family is not writing a large check during the hardest week of their lives. When you are ready, compare final expense insurance plans to lock in coverage that fits your budget and age.