Yes, the VA will pay some, but not all, of your burial costs, and probably very little of your funeral costs.
According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average cost of a funeral with burial in 2017 was $8,755; the average cost of a funeral with cremation was $6,260. That’s just the cost of transporting and preparing the body, and holding a small viewing. If you want a service and a wake, expect to pay more.
If you want a fancy casket, expect to pay an average of $5,000 for it. Amazon, Costco and Walmart sell caskets for less than $1,000, but some fancy ones cost more than $10,000. If you just want to be buried in a pine box, be sure to check local laws. Some states don’t allow that.
A burial plot in a public cemetery will cost between $200 and $2,000. If you want to be buried in a private cemetery, that price can go up to $5,000 in some places. If you’re in a city, the price can easily go up to $25,000 for the gravesite alone. If you want to be cremated and have your ashes buried, expect to pay up to $2,500 for the plot.
Of course, there are additional fees. You have to pay for them to dig the hole and fill it back up; this can cost more than $3,000. Just doing the paperwork (some places require a permit to be buried) can reach up to $1,000. Some fancy cemeteries even charge a fee for “perpetual care;” this is the cost of upkeep for the cemetery — cutting grass, planting trees etc. If you want a tombstone, expect to pay at least $500 to $5,000.
The VA will pay a burial allowance to an eligible veteran’s family to help defray burial and funeral costs. The burial allowance is a tax-free benefit paid automatically. If you are eligible for a plot allowance the VA requires receipts to show the actual cost paid.
- If the death occurs while hospitalized by the VA, it will pay a $780 burial allowance and $780 for a burial plot.
- If the death is considered service-connected, the VA will pay a burial allowance of up to $2,000 and may reimburse some of the costs of transporting remains.
- If the death isn’t service-connected, the VA pays a burial allowance of $300.
- For an indigent veteran with no next of kin, the VA will furnish either a casket or cremation urn for interment in either a national, state or tribal veterans cemetery.
- The Social Security Administration also will pay a death benefit of $255.
These amounts usually change every year.
All veterans with other-than-dishonorable discharges are eligible for free burial in a national VA cemetery. Space is limited; the VA recommends you request a pre-determination of burial eligibility to avoid any delay when the time comes.
Most states have their own veterans cemeteries. Usually, the eligibility requirements are the same as for federal cemeteries. In most cases, spouses are eligible for burial next to the veteran at little or no cost. Also, markers are provided.
Arlington National Cemetery has very limited space for burial; there is more space available for inurnment of cremated remains. Only certain veterans are eligible for burial at Arlington.
If you wish to be buried in a civilian cemetery, the VA may pay a small fee, as described earlier, for your plot allowance. It will also provide a free headstone. Some states also help with the cost of burial and the cost of setting a headstone.
You can always choose to be buried at sea from a Navy ship.
Whatever the case, it’s a good idea to make a plan. Also, remember that the funeral director can help with a lot of this stuff. They know how to submit the paperwork to the VA, and usually how to get the most out of your state benefits as well.