National Cemetery Administration banner graphic

Preserve Your Legacy with VA Burial and Memorial Benefits

National Cemetery Administration sent this bulletin at 08/12/2025 06:10 PM EDT

VA Burial Benefits

Understand Your Eligibility and Plan Ahead with Confidence

The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) proudly honors your service and sacrifice by helping ensure your legacy lives on.

Too many Veterans and families miss out on VA burial and memorial benefits simply because they don’t know they’re eligible. Whether you choose burial in a VA national cemetery or a private cemetery, these benefits are a meaningful part of end-of-life planning.

That’s why NCA launched Plan Today, Honor Forever, a nationwide campaign designed to help you understand your options and plan ahead.

Why Planning Ahead Matters

With Plan Today, Honor Forever you can:

Learn what burial and memorial benefits you may be eligible for
Share important information with your family or caregivers
Check your eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery
Understand how VA burial allowances may help cover costs

Native American couple standing together outdoors.

Apply for Pre-need Burial Eligibility

Veterans and spouses can apply in advance to determine their eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery. The online application takes less than 10 minutes and helps reduce stress and uncertainty for loved ones during a difficult time.

Complete Your Pre-need Burial Eligibility Application Now

Additional Resources

NCA is committed to ensuring that all eligible Veterans and their families understand and can access the burial benefits they’ve earned. As part of this effort, we’ve developed resources that address the unique needs of different Veteran communities. Download our new infosheet, Burial Benefits for Native American Veterans, that outlines burial benefit options at VA national cemeteries and VA grant-funded tribal cemeteries, along with important planning information tailored to Native American Veterans and their families.

Your Story, Your Legacy

You can now share your story in your own words through the Veterans Legacy Memorial’s (VLM) “Your Story, Your Legacy”
feature. Use this tool to upload images, autobiographies, written tributes, military and life milestones, and historical documents. After your passing, VLM will publish your submissions on its website—the nation’s largest online memorial dedicated to honoring America’s Veterans.

To access the “Your Story, Your Legacy” page, start by submitting a VA pre-need burial eligibility application online. Once approved, you will receive an email to set up your personal VLM page. Watch this short video to learn more.

Learn More

Visit www.cem.va.gov/veterans-and-families to explore your benefits. For pre-need burial eligibility questions, you can call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117 (TTY:711) and select 4, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. ET to 5:30 p.m. ET.

Subscribe Today and Stay Informed

If you haven't already, please click the button below to subscribe to the Burial and Memorial Benefits for Veterans and Families email to receive more messages like this with focused VA burial benefits information and links to helpful resources.

Click to Subscribe for More VA Burial Benefits Info

Connect With Us

You have received this message because you are subscribed to National Cemetery Administration. Access your Subscriber Preferences to make changes to your subscription or Unsubscribe. Get this as a forward? Sign up to receive updates from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Have questions or problems? Please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com for assistance.