For those eligible veterans, the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) burial benefits fall into three categories: burial allowance, plot allowance, and transportation allowance. In order to be eligible to receive any VA benefits, including burial benefits, the veteran must have an honorable discharge, a general discharge "under honorable conditions," or a discharge "under other than honorable conditions" which the VA has previously determined.

To receive burial benefits, the veteran must have been in receipt of VA compensation or non-service-connected pension benefits, died in a VA medical facility, or have a claim pending at the time of his or her death; which would result in basic entitlement being established.

The VA pays a basic burial allowance of $300 to families of deceased veterans. Should the VA determine that the veteran's death was to to a service-releated disability, the basic burial allowance is $1,500 (in which case the plot allowance is not paid). If the remains (either casketed or cremated) are not placed in either a National Cemetery or a State Cemetery, the family may apply for a plot allowance of $150. Transportation allowance may be paid if the veteran died in a VA medical facility or a private nursing home under VA contract. This transportation allowance includes removal from the place of death to a local funeral home, and funeral coach to a local cemetery. If the remains are to be shipped, the allowance includes transportation to the airport, cost of air freight, allowance for a cover to protect the casket, pick-up charge whee the remains are sent, and funeral coach charge to the local cemetery for burial.

If a veteran was receiving VA compensation or non-service-related pension (as the greater benefit) but was entitled to receive compensation, transportation to the nearest national cemetery may be paid. If the veteran had a family member (spouse or child) in a national cemetery other than the closest one, transportation allowance would be paid to that national cemetery.

Substantial cost savings may be realized by using the National Cemetery System. In most cases the cost associated with opening and closing the grave is eliminated. Cemetery officials order the grave marker and place it at no charge.

A common misunderstanding regarding burial arrangements for veterans is that the military of VA handles funeral arrangements; a function reserved for active duty personnel. Funeral homes can arrange for military honors (through the military) for retired personnel, but resources are limited. Service organizations such as the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and others have "burial details" which may be called upon to render military honors.

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