VA Burial Benefits: What Families Should Know

Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things a family can go through. In the middle of grief, the last thing anyone wants to worry about is paperwork and finances. But for families of veterans, there is real financial and logistical support available — and too many people never take advantage of it simply because they don't know it exists.

If your loved one served in the United States military, they may have earned burial benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. At Destiny Funeral Home & Crematory in Long Beach, we are here to make sure California veteran families understand exactly what those benefits are and how to access every one of them.

What Is a VA Burial Benefit?

A VA burial benefit is a form of financial assistance provided by the federal government to help cover the cost of a veteran's burial, funeral, and related expenses. These veteran burial benefits are meant to honor the sacrifice of those who served — and to ease the financial burden on the families they leave behind.

VA burial benefits can cover a range of expenses, including:

• Burial and funeral costs
• The cost of a burial plot or interment
• Transportation of the veteran's remains to a national cemetery
• A government-furnished headstone, grave marker, or niche marker
• Military funeral honors, including the presentation of a burial flag

It's worth knowing that these benefits apply whether the veteran chose traditional burial or cremation. The VA recognizes all legal methods of disposition, including cremation and burial at sea.

Who Qualifies for Veteran Burial Benefits?

Eligibility is broader than many families realize. A veteran does not have to have served in combat to qualify. Generally speaking, the following individuals may be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery and related benefits:

• A veteran who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable
• A service member who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training
• The spouse or minor child of an eligible veteran, even if the veteran died first
• In some cases, an unmarried adult dependent child of a veteran

In California specifically, both opposite-sex and same-sex married couples — as well as those in an official domestic partnership — are eligible for burial benefits, in accordance with California law and federal VA policy. A marriage is recognized as valid for benefit purposes based on the law of the place where the couple was married.

How Much Does the VA Pay?

The burial allowance amounts are updated periodically. As of October 1, 2025, the VA pays up to $1,002 for burial expenses and up to $1,002 for a burial plot for non-service-connected deaths. For veterans who died as a result of a service-connected disability, higher allowances are available.

Additionally, for veterans whose remains need to be transported to a national cemetery, the VA provides a transportation reimbursement. If the veteran died while hospitalized by the VA, similar burial and plot allowances apply.

For veterans who passed away without next-of-kin or financial resources, the VA will furnish either a casket or cremation urn for burial in a national, state, or tribal veterans cemetery.

Memorial Items Provided by the VA

Beyond financial assistance, the VA also provides memorial items to honor a veteran's service:

• Headstones and grave markers are available at no cost for eligible veterans buried in any cemetery — not just national cemeteries. As of October 1, 2025, a headstone or marker allowance of up to $441 is available for veterans who died after that date and were buried in a private cemetery.

• Burial flags are provided to honor veterans and reservists who meet certain service requirements. These flags are typically presented to the next of kin during military funeral honors.

• Presidential Memorial Certificates are engraved certificates signed by the President that express the nation's gratitude for a veteran's service.

Military Funeral Honors in California

Military funeral honors are a meaningful way to recognize a veteran's service at their final farewell. Families of eligible veterans can request military funeral honors through the Department of Defense. These honors typically include the playing of "Taps," a rifle salute, a color guard, and the formal folding and presentation of a United States flag to the family.

To qualify for a burial flag, the veteran or reservist must generally have served in wartime, served after January 31, 1955, or met other specific service criteria outlined by the VA. Families can coordinate military funeral honors through their funeral home — and at Destiny Funeral Home & Crematory, we are glad to help make those arrangements on your behalf.

California-Specific Laws and Resources

California has its own network of state veterans cemeteries, administered by the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet). These state cemeteries provide an additional burial option for eligible veterans and their dependents who may not be near a federal national cemetery.

CalVet also works alongside local County Veterans Service Offices (CVSOs) across Southern California, which are available to assist families with completing applications for burial and cemetery benefits at no charge. Families in the Long Beach area, for example, can reach out to the Los Angeles County Veterans Service Office for guidance on state-level resources that complement federal VA burial benefits.

How to Apply for VA Burial Benefits

Applying for burial benefits requires filing a claim with the VA. For non-service-connected burial allowances, the claim must be filed within two years of the veteran's burial or cremation. There is no time limit for filing a claim related to a service-connected death.

Families can apply online at va.gov or by completing VA Form 21P-530EZ and submitting it by mail. To support the claim, it helps to have the veteran's DD214 (discharge papers), an itemized receipt for burial expenses, and, if applicable, medical records for service-connected death claims.

To request a government-furnished headstone or grave marker, families complete VA Form 10-1330 and mail it to the Department of Veterans Affairs. For questions about eligibility and memorial items, the VA's dedicated line at 1-800-827-1000 is available to help.

Let Destiny Funeral Home & Crematory Help You Navigate VA Benefits

We know how much goes into planning a meaningful farewell — especially when you're also trying to learn a new set of federal and state processes on the fly. At Destiny Funeral Home & Crematory, our experienced staff is here to guide veteran families through every step, including helping you complete the forms needed to access the burial benefits your loved one earned through their service.

We are proud to serve veterans and their families throughout Long Beach and the surrounding communities of Los Angeles and Orange County. When the time comes, you don't have to figure this out alone. Our team is ready to sit with you, walk you through your options, and make sure your veteran is honored the way they deserve.

To learn more about our veterans services or to speak with one of our compassionate staff members, reach out to Destiny Funeral Home & Crematory. It would be our honor to help your family.