Veterans Burial Benefits
If the parent served in the military, the family may be entitled to burial benefits they have never heard about: burial in a national cemetery, a headstone, a flag, and in some cases a burial allowance. This page is what the benefits are, how to apply, and what to gather before the death to make the claim easy. This is the after-death benefit; for a parent who is still living, see the Veterans Benefits for Aging Parents guide.
ask before you need them
The veterans burial benefits map
Ask about veterans burial benefits before you need them: the paperwork is easier when the parent can still sign and the family can gather the discharge record now.
- What the benefits areNational cemetery, headstone, flag, allowanceThe VA provides burial and memorial benefits for eligible veterans: burial in a national cemetery, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and in some cases a burial allowance, per the VA's burials and memorials page.
- Eligibility basicsThe DD-214, honorable service, cemetery rulesThe parent's discharge document (DD Form 214 or equivalent) is the key record for every claim, most burial benefits require an honorable discharge with some exceptions, and national cemetery eligibility includes veterans, some spouses, and dependents, confirmed with the VA before planning the interment.
- Gather nowThe DD-214 and the family recordsIf the family cannot find the discharge record, the documents checklist and the National Archives are the recovery path: gather it now, not during the first 24 hours, along with the marriage and dependent records for spouse burial rights.
- The honest frameBefore the need, not duringThe paperwork is easier while the parent can still sign, and the VA benefits map covers the broader benefit picture the family should know while the parent is alive.
The rule, in one sentence: ask about veterans burial benefits before you need them: the paperwork is easier when the parent can still sign and the family can gather the discharge record now.
What the benefits are
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides burial and memorial benefits for eligible veterans: burial in a national cemetery, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and in some cases a burial allowance. The VA's burials and memorials page is the authoritative reference, and the VA benefits guide covers the broader benefit picture the family should know about while the parent is alive.
Eligibility basics
- Service record: the parent's discharge document (DD Form 214 or equivalent) is the key record for every claim.
- Honorable service: most burial benefits require an honorable discharge, with some exceptions for other-than-honorable service.
- National cemetery eligibility includes veterans, some spouses, and dependents; the family confirms with the VA before planning the interment.
What to gather before the death
- The discharge record (DD 214). If the family cannot find it, the documents checklist and the National Archives are the recovery path; gather it now, not during the first 24 hours.
- Marriage and dependent records for spouse burial rights.
- The parent's wishes recorded in the funeral planning documents, including whether a national cemetery is the plan.
How to apply
After the death, the family works with the funeral home and the VA: the funeral home can request the flag and the national cemetery scheduling, and the family submits the burial allowance claim with the discharge record and the funeral bill. The first-24-hours guide covers the general sequence, and the survivor benefits guide covers the ongoing payments the family should also check.
Related guides
- VA benefits: what the parent may be entitled to
- Funeral planning
- The first 24 hours after a parent dies
Sources & verification
This page is checked against the standards in our editorial policy, preferring government sources for veterans benefits guidance. Reviewed August 2026:
- US Department of Veterans Affairs: Burials and Memorials (retrieved August 2026)
- National Institute on Aging: End of Life (retrieved August 2026)
Found an error? Report it: we log and correct material mistakes publicly.
Quick answers
Common questions, answered plainly. The details match the sources above.
Can a veteran be buried in a national cemetery?
Eligible veterans can be buried in a national cemetery, and some spouses and dependents qualify as well. The family confirms eligibility with the VA before planning the interment.
What records do we need for veterans burial benefits?
The key record is the discharge document (DD Form 214 or equivalent), plus marriage and dependent records for spouse claims. Gather these before the death so the claim is not a scramble during the first 24 hours.
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