Burial Help for Veterans: State and County Allowances Compared

01What VA pays

For a veteran whose death on or after October 1, 2026 wasn’t service-connected, VA’s burial allowance is up to $1,032, with a plot allowance when the veteran isn’t buried in a national cemetery and other rules are met¹. For a service-connected death, VA pays up to $2,000¹. VA may also cover some transportation costs¹.

Eligible veterans and some family members can be buried in a VA national cemetery at no cost for the grave, opening and closing, liner and headstone or marker². Our burial and survivor benefits guide covers how to apply.

02State veterans cemeteries

Many states run veterans cemeteries, often built with VA grant funding³. They usually follow national cemetery eligibility and charge eligible veterans little or nothing. Kansas, for example, runs four state veterans cemeteries that provide burial space, liner, opening and closing, and a marker at no charge⁴. At Wyoming’s state veterans cemetery, plots are assigned at the time of need at no charge, while the funeral director’s services are paid by the family⁵.

Spouses may have to pay a fee in some state cemeteries. See state or national veterans cemetery for the differences.

03State and county cash allowances

A handful of states pay toward funerals, usually through social services rather than the veterans agency, and usually only after other benefits. Wyoming’s program pays up to $1,500 toward burial, plus up to $500 for transportation for a veteran buried in a veterans cemetery, for people on Medicaid, SSI or POWER, and it’s the payment of last resort⁶⁷. Wyoming also notes that counties may run their own burial assistance⁶.

County programs are common in some states and absent in others. The funeral home or a county veteran service officer usually knows what’s available locally.

Our state guides describe state-level burial help for 12 of the 51 jurisdictions. Where the table says none was found, that doesn’t mean nothing exists; ask the state veterans agency at the site listed.

04Burial help by state

Source: As cited in WeFoundCare state guides: ^{8910114121314151617675}.

VA benefits by state: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Wyoming has a dedicated guide: Wyoming veteran burial benefits.

05Steps for the family

1. Find the discharge papers (DD-214). Cemeteries and VA need proof of service².
2. Tell the funeral home the person was a veteran. Many handle the cemetery request and military honors.
3. Apply for the VA allowance. Within VA's time limits; see the burial guide¹.
4. Ask the county veteran service officer about state and county help. Free, and they know local programs.
5. Check survivor benefits. See survivor benefits and DIC.

If the veteran had VA life insurance, see filing a VA life insurance claim. Surviving spouses who own a home should also check property tax rules for surviving spouses.

06Getting free help