Burial Benefits
Burial Benefits
VA burial benefits available to veterans discharged under honorable conditions include a gravesite in a national cemetery; a Government headstone or marker; a burial flag; and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, at no cost to the family.
Some veterans may also be eligible for VA burial allowances. To be eligible, at least one of the following conditions must be met:
- The Veteran died because of a service-connected disability, OR
- The Veteran was receiving or was entitled to receive VA pension or compensation at the time of death, OR
- The Veteran died in a VA hospital, in a nursing home under VA contract, or while in an approved state nursing home, OR
- The Veteran died while getting VA care, either at a VA facility or at a facility contracted by VA, OR
- The Veteran died while traveling with proper authorization, and at VA’s expense, either to or from a facility for an examination, or to receive treatment or care, OR
- The Veteran died with an original or reopened claim for VA compensation or pension pending at the time of death, if they would’ve been entitled to benefits before the time of death, OR
- The Veteran died while receiving a VA pension or compensation, OR
- The Veteran died while eligible for a VA pension or compensation at the time of death, but instead received full military retirement or disability pay
Burial Allowance Amounts
Service Connected Death
| Status | Maximum Burial Allowance |
| If the Veteran died on or after September 11, 2001 | $2,000.00 |
| If the Veteran died before September 11, 2001 | $1,500.00 |
| If the Veteran is buried in a VA National Cemetery | VA may pay you back for some or all of the cost of moving the Veteran’s remains |
Non-Service Connected Death
| Status | Maximum Burial Allowance |
| If the Veteran died on or after October 1, 2023 | VA Will pay a $948 burial allowance and $948 for a plot |
| If the Veteran died on or after January 5, 2023, but before October 1, 2023 | VA Will pay a $893 burial allowance and $893 for a plot |
| If the Veteran died on or after October 1, 2022, but before January 5, 2023 | VA Will pay a $300 burial allowance and $893 for a plot |
| If the Veteran died on or after October 1, 2021, but before October 1, 2022 | VA Will pay a $300 burial allowance and $828 for a plot |
| If the Veteran died on or after October 1, 2020, but before October 1, 2021 | VA Will pay a $300 burial allowance and $807 for a plot |
Non-Service Connected Death Hospitalized by VA
| Status | Maximum Burial Allowance |
| If the Veteran died on or after October 1, 2023 | VA will pay a $948 burial allowance and $948 for a plot |
| If the Veteran died on or after October 1, 2022, but before October 1, 2023 | VA will pay a $893 burial allowance and $893 for a plot |
| If the Veteran died on or after October 1, 2021, but before October 1, 2022 | VA will pay a $828 burial allowance and $828 for a plot |
| If the Veteran died on or after October 1, 2020, but before October 1, 2021 | VA will pay a $807 burial allowance and $807 for a plot |
| If the Veteran died on or after October 1, 2019, but before October 1, 2020 | VA will pay a $796 burial allowance and $796 for a plot |
No special forms are required when requesting burial in a VA National Cemetery. The person making burial arrangements should have their funeral home contact the cemetery in which burial is desired at the time of need. Prearrangement is not available. The nearest National Cemetery to Cleveland is located in Rittman, Ohio. It is approximately 73 miles (1 ½ hours) from Lake County.
Our staff can assist with more information and applying for all VA burial benefits. Also, most funeral directors in Lake County are well versed in veterans’ burial benefits. Please also see burial benefits under the Local Veterans Benefits section of this website.