Burial Benefits, Death Benefits, and Memorial Items for Veterans

Veterans can receive military funeral honors and memorial items whether they’re interred in a veterans cemetery or a private one. If you’re a veteran and your discharge was not dishonorable, you can probably be buried in a national veterans cemetery. Arlington National Cemetery has stricter eligibility rules than other national cemeteries.  

Military Funeral Honors and Memorial Items 

Almost all veterans can receive military funeral honors at no cost. They are also usually eligible for free memorial items including:

  • Headstones, markers, and medallions
  • Burial flag
  • Presidential Memorial Certificate

Learn how to apply for veterans memorial items.

Veterans Burial Benefits and Death Benefits at Private Cemeteries

Veterans buried in private cemeteries can receive military funeral honors and memorial items. 

The veteran’s family or representative can apply for a veterans burial allowance (or veterans death benefit), in certain cases. These include veterans receiving a VA pension or compensation. The burial allowance can help pay for burial, funeral, and transportation costs. It can’t be used for cremation, which is a funeral director service. 

Eligibility for Burial in National and State Veterans Cemeteries

VA National Cemeteries

Eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery is typically open to a:

  • Veteran of the armed forces
  • Service member who died while on active duty
  • Veteran’s spouse
  • Veteran’s minor child

See an interactive map and list of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries. 

Apply in advance to learn if you qualify for burial in a VA national cemetery.  If you do qualify, you’ll get the confirmation in a pre-need decision letter.

How to Apply for Social Security Benefits After a Family Member’s Death

The house opposite commanded a plain view into the room, and observing more and more the indecorous figure that Queequeg made, staving about with little The Social Security Administration should be notified immediately when a person dies. However, you cannot report a death or apply for survivors benefits online. In most cases, the funeral home will report the person’s death to Social Security. You should give the funeral home the deceased person’s Social Security number if you want them to make the report.

If you need to report a death or apply for benefits, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You can speak to a Social Security representative between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also visit your local Social Security office. An appointment is not required, but if you call ahead and schedule one, it may reduce the time you spend waiting to speak to someone.

When You Report a Death

  • If you are getting benefits on your spouse’s or parent’s record:
    • You generally will not need to file an application for survivors benefits.
    • We’ll automatically change any monthly benefits you receive to survivors benefits after we receive the report of death.
    • We may be able to pay the Special Lump-Sum Death Payment automatically.
  • If you are getting retirement or disability benefits on your own record:
    • You will need to apply for the survivors benefits. 
    • We will check to see whether you can get a higher benefit as a widow or widower.
  • If you are not getting benefits, you should apply for survivors benefits promptly because, in some cases, benefits may not be retroactive.

Documents Needed to Apply

Please select the benefit you will be applying for from the list below to see what information and documents you may need when you apply:

If you don’t have all the documents you need, don’t delay applying for Social Security.

In many cases, your local Social Security office can contact your state Bureau of Vital Statistics and verify your information online at no cost to you. If we can’t verify your information online, we can still help you get the information you need.