Skip to main content
★   For Veterans & Military Families   ★

Know What Your Service Has Earned.
Protect Your Family's Future.

The VA provides burial benefits, military honors, and national cemetery eligibility to millions of veterans — but most families don't know the full picture until it's too late. This site changes that.

18M+
Living veterans in the U.S.
155+
National Cemeteries available
$0
Cost for national cemetery burial
1 in 4
Eligible veterans actually use it
The Reality

Most Families Don't Know What They've Earned

Veterans have earned significant burial and memorial benefits through their service. But the information is scattered, confusing, and often discovered too late.

No DD-214, No Benefits

Without the DD-214 discharge document, families often cannot access the burial benefits their veteran earned — and obtaining a replacement takes weeks.

Get the DD-214 guide →

The VA Doesn't Cover Everything

The VA burial allowance is $978. The average funeral costs $9,000+. Most families face a significant gap — and discover it at the worst possible time.

See the benefits gap →

Military Honors Go Unclaimed

Every veteran is entitled to military funeral honors — a folded flag, Taps, honor guard. Many families never request them because they didn't know they were available.

Learn about honors →
$978
VA burial allowance
vs. $9,000+ average funeral cost
75%
of eligible veterans
don't use national cemetery burial
90+
days for VA pre-need
eligibility determination
What You've Earned

VA Burial & Memorial Benefits

These benefits belong to veterans and their families. Here's a plain-language breakdown of what's available.

National Cemetery Burial

Free graveside for eligible veterans and spouses — includes grave, liner, opening/closing, headstone, and perpetual care. Over 155 locations nationwide.

Eligibility & locations →

Military Funeral Honors

Every veteran is entitled to a ceremonial flag, Taps (live or recorded), and a two-member honor guard — provided at no cost to the family.

What to expect →

Burial Allowance & More

VA burial allowances, headstones, Presidential Memorial Certificates, and survivor benefits — all part of the benefits picture families need to understand.

Full benefits guide →

Plan Ahead

The Gap Between What the VA Pays & What Funerals Actually Cost

The VA burial allowance is $978. The average funeral in the U.S. costs between $7,000 and $13,000 depending on your state. That gap — several thousand dollars — often lands on families during their most vulnerable moment.

Pre-planning with a preneed funeral insurance policy fills that gap, locks in today's prices, and removes the burden from your family entirely.

Calculate Your Gap Learn About Pre-Planning
⚠️   Is your DD-214 stored safely? Without it, your family may not be able to claim burial benefits at time of need.  Learn what to do →

Free Tool

VA Benefits Gap Calculator

Enter your state and burial type to instantly see:

  • ✅  What the VA will cover
  • ✅  Estimated total funeral cost in your state
  • ⚠️  The gap your family would have to cover
Open the Calculator →
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

All veterans with an honorable or general discharge are entitled to: military funeral honors (flag, Taps, honor guard), a free headstone or marker, and eligibility for burial in a national cemetery. A burial allowance of up to $978 is available for non-service-connected deaths ($2,000 for service-connected deaths).
No. The VA burial allowance covers a portion of funeral expenses — up to $978 for non-service-connected deaths. The average U.S. funeral costs $7,000–$13,000. The gap between VA coverage and actual cost is typically $6,000–$12,000, depending on your state and burial choices.
Yes. The spouse and dependent children of an eligible veteran may be buried in a VA national cemetery. Spouses buried alongside a veteran receive the same benefits — free grave, headstone/marker, and perpetual care.
The DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) is the primary document proving military service. Families need it to apply for VA burial benefits, military funeral honors, and national cemetery eligibility. It should be stored somewhere accessible and copies kept with trusted family members.
The funeral director typically coordinates military honors by contacting the appropriate military branch or the National Cemetery Scheduling Office. Families can also request honors directly by contacting the deceased's military branch. Honors must be requested — they are not automatically provided. See our full honors guide for step-by-step instructions.
Read the Full Benefits Guide →

Don't Leave Benefits on the Table

Every veteran and eligible family member deserves to know what they've earned. Get the free planning guide — no sales pressure, just information.

★  Get Your Free Planning Guide