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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFor qualifying non-service-connected deaths on or after October 1, 2026, the VA lists a burial allowance of $1,032 and a separate plot or interment allowance of $1,032. Each is $30 higher than the corresponding amount for deaths from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. These are separate, eligibility-based benefits—not a guaranteed $2,064 payment to every family. The VA’s current rate page was updated October 7, 2026.
How much are VA burial benefits?
The applicable amount depends on whether the Veteran’s death was service-connected and, for non-service-connected claims, the date of death. The figures below are the rates or maximums shown by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; they do not guarantee that a claimant qualifies for every listed component.
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| Death circumstance and date | Burial allowance | Plot or interment allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Non-service-connected; on or after October 1, 2026 | $1,032 | $1,032 |
| Non-service-connected; October 1, 2025–September 30, 2026 | $1,002 | $1,002 |
| Service-connected; on or after September 11, 2001 | Up to $2,000 | Not stated as a separate non-service-connected plot amount |
| Service-connected; before September 11, 2001 | Up to $1,500 | Not stated as a separate non-service-connected plot amount |
The newer non-service-connected rate is a $30 increase in each listed component, not a universal $60 increase in one automatic payment. The service-connected amounts are a separate category; the $1,032 figures do not apply to it. For a service-connected death involving burial in a VA national cemetery, VA may also reimburse some or all transportation costs. See the VA’s current burial allowance and transportation rates.
Who can qualify for a burial allowance?
Eligibility involves both the claimant and the Veteran. In general, the person applying must have paid burial or funeral costs and must not have received reimbursement from another organization equal to or greater than the VA allowance. The Veteran must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
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At least one qualifying circumstance must also apply. VA examples include:
- The Veteran died from a service-connected disability.
- The Veteran died while receiving care at a VA facility or a VA-contracted facility.
- The Veteran died while traveling with VA authorization and at VA expense for care.
- The Veteran had a qualifying compensation or pension claim pending at death.
- The Veteran was receiving or entitled to VA compensation or pension at death.
VA burial benefits can apply to legal forms of burial including cremation, burial at sea, and donation of remains to a medical school. National cemetery eligibility is a separate determination with its own categories for Veterans, service members, spouses, and some dependents; it is not the same question as eligibility for reimbursement.
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When is the claim deadline?
The filing window depends on the type of claim and circumstances of death. For most non-service-connected burial allowance claims, VA gives the claimant two years after burial to apply. The exceptions and service-connected rules differ:
- Service-connected burial or transportation allowance: no time limit.
- Non-service-connected death under VA or VA-contracted care: no time limit for the burial allowance.
- Plot or interment and transportation claims: no time limit.
- Eligible state or tribal organization plot or interment claims: a separate no-time-limit provision applies.
Check the current VA instructions for the particular benefit being claimed, especially if the two-year period may have passed. VA’s claims page lists deadlines and exceptions.
How to apply and what to have ready
Applicants can apply online or submit VA Form 21P-530EZ by mail. VA says a death certificate showing the cause of death may be needed, along with an itemized receipt if the claimant paid transportation expenses. The Veteran’s DD214 or other separation records are also recommended.
- Check the applicable benefit and deadline. Use the death circumstances and date to identify the relevant rate and filing window.
- Gather supporting records. Have the death certificate, any applicable itemized transportation receipt, and the Veteran’s DD214 or other separation records available.
- Submit the claim. Apply online or complete VA Form 21P-530EZ and mail it according to VA’s current instructions.
An eligible surviving spouse listed on the Veteran’s VA profile may receive an automatic plot or interment or transportation payment without filing a claim. That possibility does not mean every eligible family receives every benefit automatically. Review VA’s application instructions and current form guidance.
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Headstone or marker allowance
The VA’s current page lists a maximum $441 allowance for a headstone or marker for deaths on or after October 1, 2025. The table does not show a later effective-date band, so this is the latest amount displayed there—not a confirmed October 2026 increase.
Temporary home-hospice expansion
VA announced a temporary expansion for some Veterans discharged from VA medical or nursing care to VA-provided home hospice who died from July 1, 2025, through October 1, 2026. That stated death window has ended. Because it covered a narrow set of circumstances, families whose case may fall within it should verify eligibility directly with VA rather than assume the provision remains generally available.
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