It’s something none of us want to think about: our demise. What will happen after we’re gone? Will we have a big funeral? Will anybody show up?
If you want to have a big funeral and a fancy tombstone in a nice cemetery, it will cost a lot. That’s OK. You’re a veteran; the Department of Veterans Affairs will pay. Right?
Well … not so fast.
Before we discuss what the VA will pay, let’s discuss the major costs associated with dying.
According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average cost of a funeral with burial in 2021 was nearly $8,000; the average cost of a funeral with cremation was nearly $7,000.
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.
The cemetery will cost you even more.
While some states allow you to be buried in biodegradable caskets and some even have natural burial preserves where they allow you to be buried in the woods, most don’t.
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 $500 to $5,000.
Cemeteries aren’t regulated by the federal government. They don’t have to comply with the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule, which requires an itemized bill allowing you to pick and choose which services you wish to buy. Some states have regulations, but many do not.
Don’t expect to get a line of credit from the funeral home or cemetery, either. They want payment up front. What will they do if your family doesn’t pay the bill, dig you back up?
Since you’re reading this, you probably are a veteran. Doesn’t the VA pay for all of this?
It will pay some, but not all, of your burial costs, and probably very little of your funeral costs. Of course, all these benefits are only for veterans with at least an “other-than-dishonorable” discharge.
The VA will provide most veterans a free headstone or marker.
Most states also have programs to provide some type of burial or memorial benefits.
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.
The VA’s 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, urn or memorial plaque. 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.
Check out all our information about memorial benefits, including requesting military honors at a funeral.
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Jim Absher is Military.com’s former benefits editor and columnist. He joined the Navy to see the world and later realized the world is two-thirds water. He also worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs in field offices and Washington, D.C. before coming to Military.com in 2015. Read Full Bio
Amanda Miller is an editor and writer for Military.com specializing in coverage of military and veteran pay and benefits. She became a journalist in the 1990s, began covering the military in 2007 for Military Times, and has since contributed to a number of military-oriented publications including Military Officer Magazine, The War Horse, and Air & Space Forces Magazine. Read Full Bio
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Will VA Pay for Your Funeral? The Answer May Surprise You – Military.com
